Cricket: CD poised for victory but Auckland crushed

Central Districts are in the box seat with one day left in their Plunket Shield four-day cricket match against Wellington at Napier.

At stumps on the third day yesterday, CD were 172 for two in their second innings, needing another 54 runs for the outright win after conceding first-innings points.

Wellington squandered their opportunity to break a run of four heavy defeats in the competition when their fragile batting was once again exposed.

They posted a paltry 207 in their second innings as their batsmen, with the exception of Neil Parlane, struggled to establish a defendable total.

Parlane, who started the day on 39, went on to share a partnership worth 55 with Luke Woodcock before the allrounder's dismissal for 29 sparked a collapse, the remaining six wickets going for 126 runs.

Parlane was dismissed for 90, clean bowled by Doug Bracewell after a stay lasting eight hours and 15 minutes.

Teenagers Bracewell and Adam Milne were once again Wellington's chief tormentors. Bracewell took four for 59 yesterday, giving him nine wickets for 106 in the match while Milne's figures yesterday were three for 41 to give him seven for 90.

Central's Peter Ingram celebrated his Black Caps test call-up with a 59 before giving Woodcock a return catch off his own bowling.

Meanwhile, at Whangarei Northern Districts crushed Auckland by 10 wickets with a day to spare, teenager Kane Williamson playing a starring role.

Williamson, resuming on his overnight score of 163, was dismissed eight runs short of a double century but showed his prowess as an allrounder when he claimed three wickets with his off-spin as well as taking a catch in Auckland's second innings.

Canterbury tightened the screws on Otago on the third day of their match in Queenstown, setting them 435 to secure an unlikely win today.

- NZPA