Cricket: Grafton hold on in thriller

The three top sides in the Auckland premier competition last season - Grafton, Cornwall and Howick Pakuranga - were victorious in the second round of one-day matches.

Grafton reached 237-9 after Matt Horne (82) and Richard Pudney (64) piled on 114 runs from as many balls for the second wicket.

Parnell started brightly when Tim McIntosh (104) and Akshay Reddy (58) gathered runs at the top of the innings.

With one ball remaining, Parnell needed a six for victory, but instead the stumps were shattered.

Cornwall made 253 for six against North Shore, aided by an unbeaten 94 from Mark Wright. Gene Andrews (77) and Jamie Stuart (67) batted impressively in reply, but Shore fell eight runs short.

Howick Pakuranga held East Coast Bays to 231-6 after Llorne Howell had smashed 102, and they went on to win with two wickets and 15 balls to spare.

Promoted Birkenhead (119-4) needed only half their 50 overs to score a six-wicket victory over Suburbs New Lynn (116 from 43.1 overs).