KEY POINTS:
Wellington are in sight of an astonishing comeback win in the State Championship match against Auckland.
The fourth and final day at the Basin Reserve in Wellington today will begin with Auckland in a state of bewilderment.
They reached stumps yesterday on 141 for five, chasing 319 for victory after Wellington moved on to 390 in their second innings.
That compared with the home side's gormless effort with the bat on the first day when they were rolled for a mediocre 103.
Wellington's fightback started via seamer Iain O'Brien's career-best figures of eight for 55 as Auckland's first-innings lead was restricted to 71.
They built on that thanks to Neal Parlane's fifth first-class century as he progressed from his overnight 86 to 135 yesterday before becoming one of Chris Martin's five victims.
Grant Elliott made 29, Jesse Ryder 32 and DeWayne Bowden 33.
Martin proved a tireless worker for Auckland, sending down 42 overs to collect figures of five for 107, to follow up his four on the first day.
Replying, Auckland quickly lost captain Richard Jones, Martin Guptill and Colin de Grandhomme.
O'Brien, who ran through the top order to pick up three for 49 off 19 overs, already has 11 wickets for the match, the first time in 46 first-class games he has taken 10 or more.
Opener Tim McIntosh fought hard for his 27 but there was little other resistance as Auckland teetered at 62 for five before David Houpapa was joined by Reece Young.
These two applied themselves, with Houpapa on 33 and Young 38 when play ended.
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Bad light ended play early yesterday and helped hide the blushes of the Central Districts players, who look destined to lose to Northern Districts in Gisborne.
They ended the penultimate day of the four-day fixture at Harry Barker Reserve on 108 for three in their second innings, 104 runs short of making the visitors bat a second time.
Northern Districts scored a mammoth 516 in their first innings without one player reaching a century.
James Marshall made 99 before Andrew Niblett had him caught by Peter Ingram to end an innings which lasted almost 3 1/2 hours.
B J Watling scored 91 on Tuesday but the home side were well served again yesterday by Nick Horsley, who scored 66, and Grant Robinson, 44, in an innings in which every batsman reached double figures.
Central Districts endured a horrid beginning to their second innings when Jamie How and Ingram were dismissed cheaply. Mathew Sinclair made 44 to steady the ship and Greg Hay reached 52 not out when the teams were forced off.
CANTERBURY V OTAGO
A thoughtful declaration and an electrifying half-century quickened the pulse as the match between Canterbury and Otago took an unpredictable turn yesterday.
The match at QEII Park in Christchurch threatened to die a very slow death on the third afternoon until Otago captain Craig Cumming injected some interest by declaring his side's first innings at 265 for two.
Cumming made the decision with his team still trailing by 203 runs, but it could pay off handsomely today.
Canterbury took advantage of some friendly bowling to race to 234 for three before captain Chris Harris declared to leave Otago a victory target of 438 off a minimum of 114 overs.
They used up 14 overs in reaching stumps at 35 without loss.
Canterbury were quickly into their work when batting a second time thanks to Todd Astle.
After losing first innings century-maker Michael Papps to a second-ball duck, the home side rode on the back of Astle as he plundered 50 off a mere 22 balls.
He was especially severe on seamer Matt Harvie, who conceded 46 runs off his opening three overs.
Harvie had the last laugh though, bowling Astle with the first ball following the tea break after the Cantabrian had belted 10 fours and one six.
Andy Ellis hit 59 not out but the biggest beneficiary of an untesting attack was Shanan Stewart, who belted a run-a-ball 97 before top edging a long hop from Jordan Sheed to Greg Todd.
Earlier, Aaron Redmond scored his second first-class century after resuming on 34 with Otago on 96 for two.
They lost no wickets yesterday as Redmond went on to 135 in 308 minutes, helped by Greg Todd, who made 68 as they shared an unbroken stand of 180 for the third wicket.
The only successful Canterbury bowler was Michael Davidson, who picked up two for 31.
- NZPA
