Cricket: Central forced to work for wickets on flat track

Central Districts allrounder Brendon Diamanti continued his stellar season with a five-wicket haul on a batsman-friendly track against Canterbury in their State Championship match at Rangiora yesterday.

At stumps on the second day, competition leaders Central were 130 for three, chasing Canterbury's imposing 543 all out.

Resuming at 388 for five overnight, Canterbury managed to add only seven runs before centurion Johann Myburgh became Diamanti's fifth victim, caught by Central captain Mathew Sinclair for 107.

Diamanti, called up to the Black Caps for the Chapell-Hadlee series, finished the day with the excellent figures of 5-32 off 10 overs for his third first-class five-wicket bag.

Three Canterbury batsmen topped 100, including Indian guest Rahul Dravid with 102.

Central's guest Indian legspinner, Amit Mishra, picked up three wickets yesterday to finish with figures of three for 155 off 48.2 overs.

Meanwhile, Otago are well set to beat Wellington after building a 245-run lead at the end of the second day in Dunedin.

At stumps, Otago were 210 for seven wickets, having taken just 20.1 overs on Friday to polish off Wellington's first innings, taking their last five wickets for 45 runs.

Otago bowler Warren McSkimming finished with innings figures of four for 40 and help his side to first innings points.



Otago, who scored 174 in their first innings, got their second turn off to a shaky start when fast bowler Michael Burns removed openers Craig Cumming and Hamish Rutherford in the space of three overs. But from 17 for two, India test stalwart, VVS Laxman, and Greg Todd rebuilt the innings with a 77-run partnership before Laxman departed for 44, caught and bowled by Luke Woodcock.

Todd hung around to forge a 64-run partnership with Nathan McCullum before Woodcock bowled him on 73.

Otago resume today with Sam Wells not out 22 and Wagner one, not out at the crease.

Auckland, all out for 277 against Northern Districts, repaid the compliment by dismissing the Knights for 268 and moved to 27 for one at stumps in an evenly poised match in Whangerei.

Leg spinner Tarun Nethula weaved some leg-spin magic to bowl Auckland to first innings points over Northern Districts.

Chasing Auckland's first innings of 277, Northern were dismissed for 268, 10 runs short of their target.

Auckland resume their second innings tomorrow at 27 for one, a lead of 36.

Nethula's four wickets came at a cost of 72 runs but medium pacer Daryl Tuffey also played his part, taking an economical three for 45 off 24.2 overs.