Cricket: Otago up against it on day 4

A sporting declaration by Auckland captain Richard Jones and late wickets to his opening bowler Kerry Walmsley have left an intriguing final day of cricket against Otago at the Eden Park Outer Oval.

After day one was lost totally to rain, and play delayed on day two, Otago resumed yesterday on 174 for five, but a six-wicket bag to former Black Cap Andre Adams reduced Otago to 268 all out in the State Championship match.

Auckland batted for just 20.1 overs before Jones declared his first innings over at 99 - still 169 runs behind.

With just three overs left in the day's play, Jones' bold move was vindicated by Walmsley, who picked up the scalps of Otago opener Jordan Sheed and No 3 Michael Powell to leave Otago at five for two at stumps.

Jones will be hoping his quartet of current and former international bowlers - Adams, Walmsley, Kyle Mills and Tama Canning - can prise out more wickets early today to give his batsmen an achievable target later on the final day.

Elsewhere, just 25 overs were bowled at the Basin Reserve in Wellington as bad light stopped play with Wellington 161 for four in reply to Canterbury's 332 all out in their State Championship four-day cricket match.

Wellington added 56 runs to their overnight score, with the sole loss of opener Luke Woodcock, who added 11 runs to his overnight score before being caught by Chris Harris from the offspin of Paul Wiseman.

Those 25 overs were more than were possible in Hamilton as the entire day's play was lost between Northern and Central Districts, with Northern remaining 66 for four leading into the final day.

- NZPA