KEY POINTS:
A crucial post-tea wicket from rookie legspinner Tarun Nethula yesterday set up Auckland for certain victory over Canterbury in the first State Championship match of the season.
Although the four-day game will go to its final day in Rangiora today, the defending champions have no hope of salvaging a draw, with a late afternoon batting collapse leaving them 280 for nine and chasing 405 for the win.
Corey Anderson (39 not out) battled resolutely with No 11 Hamish Bennett to delay the inevitable, aided when bad light halted play shortly after 6.15pm.
Nethula made the best possible start to his first-class career when he floated in a tempter to New Zealand squad member Peter Fulton, Scott Styris latching on to the catch in the slips to break a dangerous-looking 99-run third-wicket partnership.
Fulton (64) and Johann Myburgh came together when Canterbury were teetering on 79 for two, following the early losses of Michael Papps (26) and Todd Astle (23). The pair buckled down to bat with determination and leave the southerners a glimmer of hope at 148 for two at lunch.
But once Nethula dislodged Fulton with the score on 178, Canterbury looked vulnerable, more so once Shanan Stewart collected his second duck of the match, caught out by Nethula's wrong 'un and trapped leg before wicket.
At 186 for four, Canterbury's hopes all but disappeared six runs later with the loss of the South African-born Myburgh, who crafted together a useful 67 from 99 balls including nine boundaries before Colin de Grandhomme trapped him on the crease for another lbw decision.
De Grandhomme also accounted for Iain Robertson four overs later, caught by wicketkeeper Garth Hopkins on 14 after a poorly judged hook and Canterbury had to fight a doomed rearguard action at 208 for six.
Captain Kruger van Wyk became Nethula's third victim. Anderson settled the innings somewhat, but rapidly ran out of partners as English import Steven Croft accounted for Brandon Hiini (11) and Michael Davidson (10), both trapped leg before wicket as the light faded.
Canterbury rarely got off the back foot in this game, after inept first-innings batting saw them post just 169 in reply to Auckland's 398.
Hope flared briefly early yesterday as Canterbury captured Auckland's remaining five second innings wickets for 32 runs, leaving them 175 all out, but the target of 405 proved too much in the face of Auckland's bowling.
Andy McKay's first innings 4-37 was well backed-up in the second innings by de Grandhomme who took 3-37 off 12 overs, Nethula (3-71) and Croft with 2-31 off seven.
- NZPA
