Cricket: Northern dig in to keep up pressure

By TERRY MADDAFORD

A defiant innings by Grant Bradburn and a restrained contribution from Neal Parlane steered Northern Districts into a position from where first innings points should become a formality early in today's play in their Shell Trophy match against Central Districts in Taupo.

But the honours were not all with the home side in a cricket game which see-sawed throughout the second day.

From 109 overs yesterday, Northern took their overnight score from 12 without loss to 261 for five - just 29 runs shy of a first-innings lead.

Led by the luckless Michael Mason, who bowled 28 overs of testing pace for 40 runs but no success - he had Parlane put down behind the wicket - Central Districts bowled tightly with the field generally backing their bowlers well.

Spinner Haydn Morgan, while reluctant to rely too much on flight, was nevertheless on the spot and was justly rewarded with two for 42 from 28 overs.

He eventually ended Parlane's bid for a second first-class century when he had him taken close in by David Kelly for 89 - his second-highest score for Northern.

Parlane's 262-minute stay included 13 boundaries.

He and Bailey came together at 97 for three after Michael Parlane and Mark Bailey had failed to capitalise on solid starts to their innings.

Michael Parlane was 46 when he lost his composure and was taken at the wicket off Gareth West.

Bailey, just when he looked set for the long haul, was undone by Morgan for 21.

The salvage job by Neal Parlane and Bradburn began slowly, gained some momentum in adding 100, and ended at 131 when Bradburn was trapped leg-before for 57.

At 48, Bradburn became the fourth Northern player to amass 4000 first-class runs. He is playing his 15th season - no other player in action this term played their first game before him.

The fourth-wicket stand was the only one to reach 50 as Central maintained the pressure that restricted Joseph Yovich to just four runs from the 58 deliveries he has faced so far.

He and Brett Hood will resume this morning with Hood at least having the satisfaction of scoring his opening first-class runs.

He had reached nine after failing in both innings of his debut match in Hamilton last week.