Cricket: Tailenders hinder Wellington

A 78-run 10th-wicket partnership between tailenders Brandon Hiini and Hamish Bennett lifted Canterbury to a respectable 332 in their first innings on the second day of their State Championship match against Wellington at the Basin Reserve yesterday.

In reply, Wellington were 105 for three, with opener Luke Woodcock unbeaten on 53 and Neal Parlane on 12.

Earlier, with Canterbury at 254 for nine on the first day and Wellington pace bowler Mark Gillespie already with six wickets in the bag, Wellington would have been looking forward to their turn at bat.

Instead, No 9 Hiini and No 11 Bennett kept Wellington in the field for another 97 minutes.

Bennett faced 82 balls for his 27 runs before being bowled by Black Caps spinner Jeetan Patel. Hiini remained unbeaten on 40, the second top-scorer behind opener Todd Astle with 56.

At the bowling crease, Bennett was plagued by no-balls - sending down 11 in just four overs as Craig Ross and Black Caps discard Craig McMillan shared the three Wellington scalps.

Northern v Central

Black Caps Michael Mason and Jacob Oram each picked up a brace of wickets as just 34 overs were possible on the second day of the match in Hamilton.

After the first day was lost to rain, more rain saw Northern finish yesterday at 66 for four, with only a contrived result now seeming likely.

Both Oram and Mason were exceptionally parsimonious, Mason conceding just 10 runs off his 10 overs while picking up openers BJ Watling (8) and Brad Wilson (28).

Oram, on the comeback at the bowling crease after heel bruising, picked up Alun Evans for six and fellow Black Cap James Marshall for a duck, while giving away just six runs from his seven overs.

Auckland v Otago

Black Caps' Auckland bowlers Kyle Mills and Andre Adams left the honours even after day two of the match at the Eden Park Outer Oval yesterday.

After Sunday was lost to rain, the start of play was again delayed yesterday and with just 52.5 overs possible Otago finished on 174 for five.

Powell topscored with 61 and Broom made 59 before being out in the last over of the day's play, bowled by Adams, who finished the day with three for 32 off 11 overs.

Released by the Black Caps to play for Auckland, Mills was expensive, conceding 78 runs from his 15 overs, for two wickets .

- NZPA