Cricket: Stylish ton by Pocock leads way in fightback

By CHRIS RATTUE

Auckland captain Blair Pocock took centre stage against Northern Districts as his side battled to stay in touch with the pacesetters on the first day of their Shell Trophy cricket match at Eden Park yesterday.

Pocock hammered out his 10th first-class century in fine style to lead Auckland into a strong position at 238 for two.

Pocock can struggle for shots at times, but he was in tremendous form, especially with his driving, as he reached 123 before Joe Yovich took a fine catch running backwards when Pocock mis-hit a lofted drive.

Auckland needed something to lift their spirits after going through the first three rounds of the trophy without gaining a point.

Rain delayed the start and, after winning the toss, Auckland stamped their mark on the match around a 175-run partnership between Pocock and John Aiken on a day when the number of overs were reduced from 100 to 78 because of the delays.

Northern Districts surprisingly left test swing bowler Simon Doull out of their XI, with coach Chris Kuggeleijn saying Doull was simply being rested because of the busy schedule.

But it was a move which hardly helped their cause yesterday. Daryl Tuffey and Yovich both bowled too many deliveries that the batsmen could leave, and Aiken in particular made maximum use of that.

And while Graeme Aldridge bowled a straighter line, he did so with little effect as he conceded more than four runs an over.

There was an early turning point. Pocock was dropped by James Marshall in the slips, from Tuffey, from the first ball he faced.

He made Northern pay. Pocock scored 73 of the first 100 runs in the partnership with Aiken, and his 123 included 20 boundaries.

His last century was in Auckland's match against Wellington at Eden Park in February.

Aiken showed the utmost patience against sometimes wayward bowling and strong fielding. After nearly five hours he had compiled 84, and had hit 15 boundaries.