KEY POINTS:
Auckland's bowlers finished the job in style, but it was a brilliant piece of fielding yesterday that inspired their State Championship victory over Central Districts with a day and a half to spare.
Chasing an improbable 322 runs at the start of the day to make Auckland bat again, CD seemed to have ridden out some early disasters as Tim Weston and Greg Hay put together a 60-run partnership.
Weston, who scored his maiden century on the Eden Park outer oval last season, was on 62 and beginning to display a fine range of shots.
But on the fifth ball of the final over before lunch, with CD 144 for 3, Hay drove wide of cover and called Weston through for a single. Martin Guptill swooped on the ball and from his knees threw down the one stump he could see to run Weston out.
Auckland came back from lunch reinvigorated and took the remaining six wickets in just over seven overs to dismiss CD for 152 and win by an innings and 195 runs.
Lance Shaw, who had barely got a bowl in CD's paltry first innings of 61, ended with four for 32 and left-armer Andy McKay, who clean bowled Robbie Schaw and Brendon Diamanti with successive deliveries, had three for 35.
Auckland's next game against Otago in Dunedin begins on Monday and they will be back at Eden Park on December 10 to play Northern Districts.
CANTERBURY V ND
Canterbury picked themselves up after the initial disappointment of falling short in pursuit of first innings points against Northern Districts.
They were dismissed for 310 on the third morning yesterday at Rangiora, just nine runs shy of their first innings target, but responded admirably to stay in the match.
By stumps, they had chipped out four Northern Districts batsmen to have the visitors on 125 for four, leaving the game interestingly poised entering the final day.
Hopes had been high among the home supporters when Canterbury resumed on 243 for five with both batsmen well established.
But Captain Kruger van Wyk, who added just four to his overnight score of 59, was undone by seamer Mark Orchard, when the batsman attempted to leave a ball only to see it clip his bat and deflect on to the stumps.
Iain Robertson batted well to reach 28 as he and teenager Corey Anderson sought to build again, but Anderson's long innings ended after he had been kept quiet by left-arm spinner Bruce Martin.
The 16-year-old had added 10 to his overnight score to be on 79 when he looked to break the shackles only to be caught by Joseph Yovich.
Young seamer Tim Southee picked up the last two wickets to finish with four for 61 off 30.2 overs while Martin got through a power of work, sending down 44 overs for his three for 91.
Northern Districts will look to extend their advantage today, with Orchard and Daniel Flynn at the crease on 19 and 11 respectively.
B.J Watling scored 45 and Nick Horsley 41 in their second innings but neither kicked on after doing the hard work, and first-innings century maker James Marshall recorded a seven-ball duck.
WELLINGTON V OTAGO
Greg Todd yesterday completed an outstanding match double with his second century in three days against Wellington.
Todd was on 122 not out at stumps on the third day as Otago reached 252 for three in their second innings at the Basin Reserve in Wellington.
They held an overall lead of 76 runs entering the final day and will look to build sufficiently on that to leave Wellington a chase on the last afternoon.
Todd, who contributed 110 to Otago's first innings of 272, showed his appreciation for the Basin Reserve pitch as he stroked his fourth first-class century.
He shared stands of 116 for the second wicket with Aaron Redmond and an unbroken 90 for the fourth wicket with Marcel McKenzie.
Redmond's contribution was a timely 58 while McKenzie chipped in with 38 not out as Wellington were held at bay and forced to be patient while the Otago batsmen held sway.
Todd's second hundred of the game came off 198 balls with 112 fours and a solitary six and by the close he had faced 231 deliveries.
Wellington resumed on 391 for eight and added another 57 runs as former international Chris Nevin improved his overnight score from 43 to 70 not out.
Offspinner Nathan McCullum was the most successful bowler, taking four for 71, while Bradley Scott captured three for 56.
- Additional reporting NZPA
