Cricket: Cumming ton bolsters Otago

Auckland's Andrew De Boorder (left) jumps to avoid a hit by Otago's Craig Cumming. Photo / Otago Daily Times

Captain Craig Cumming struck his 18th first class century on a mixed day for Otago's former test opening batsmen in their Plunket Shield match against Auckland in Dunedin yesterday.

At stumps on the first day the hosts had reached 274 for five after being sent in at University Oval, built around Cumming's 102, in 3 hours and featuring 14 fours and two sixes.

A blot on their day was the loss of three wickets - sparked by Cumming's departure, caught at slip off legspinner Tarun Nethula - when the score was at 171. The third of them was opener Aaron Redmond, who returned to the crease after retiring injured with his score at 12.

Redmond, 30, lasted just four more balls and looked uncomfortable, suggesting the injury may yet have ramifications for the rest of the season.

Sam Wells added some late impetus to the Otago innings with an unbeaten 56 and will resume today alongside Derek de Boorder on 18.

Nethula ran hot and cold with the ball for Auckland, mixing some quality spells with 10 no balls. He had figures of two for 75 while seamer Gareth Shaw had claimed two for 45.

Veteran Northern Districts seamer Graeme Aldridge heaped more misery on Wellington as the competition leaders took control on the first day in Wellington.

Choosing to bowl first on a green Basin Reserve pitch, Northern ripped through the hosts for 193 and had eased within sight of first innings points by stumps at 139 for one.

Aldridge, 32, was the chief beneficiary against a Wellington batting lineup that has become increasingly feeble as the summer has progressed, taking six for 57, the eighth five-wicket bag of his career.

The fast-medium operator removed both openers cheaply and returned later to clean out the tail, with most of his 20.4 overs packing venom.

His tally takes Aldridge to 28 wickets for the Plunket Shield season, the most by any bowler, inching ahead of Central Districts duo Michael Mason and Ewen Thompson.

Wellington lost wickets at regular intervals and only wicketkeeper Chris Nevin - who passed a late fitness test on an injured hand - showed any real resistance with a gutsy 53.

In response Northern lost test opener BJ Watling to the second ball of the innings but it was plain sailing from there as the in-form Kane Williamson cruised to 74 and veteran opener Michael Parlane to 57 - the pair combining for an unbeaten stand of 139 at a run rate better than four an over as batting conditions improved.

Central Districts ground out a narrow advantage over Canterbury in New Plymouth.

Nobody sparkled with the bat for the hosts, who elected to bat first, but solid contributions from several batsmen took them to 289 for seven at stumps.

Despite the usual excellent batting conditions, Central adopted a relatively cautious approach and were guilty of losing two quick wickets on three occasions to slow their progress.

Opener Jamie How top-scored with 62 while Brad Patton reached 56, his fifth half-century of the summer that hasn't been translated into three figures.

In the middle order, Tim Weston struck 40 and wicketkeeper Bevan Griggs 41 while Brendon Diamanti was unbeaten at stumps on 47.

The Canterbury bowlers generally toiled, with Brandon Hiini returning the best figures of two for 39.

- NZPA