It could not have finished much closer as Auckland and Northern Districts played out a thrilling finish in their Plunket Shield match at Colin Maiden Park yesterday.
ND began the final day needing 354 to win. The match ended with last pair Graeme Aldridge and James Baker playing out thelast nine balls with ND finishing on 316 for nine.
An outright win for either would have bumped them to the top of the ladder. Instead, there's a dogfight developing which bodes well for a fascinating final few weeks of the domestic season.
Auckland got an early lift yesterday, dismissing ND captain Daniel Flynn in the second over of the day, but Dean Brownlie and Joe Carter's 106-run second wicket stand redressed the balance.
The other notable stand came from Daryl Mitchell and BJ Watling, who put on 141 for the fifth wicket, Mitchell hitting 84 in 135 balls and Watling a three-hour 71.
With seven overs left, ND needed 52 with six down. A late stumble threatened to undo ND's defiance and when debutant spinner Vishi Jeet, who had Brownlie out earlier in the day, dismissed Watling in the penultimate over, Aldridge and Baker -- who had a good game with a 10-wicket haul -- were left to hang on.
Canterbury went four points clear with a nine-wicket win over Wellington yesterday.
Chasing 172 they got there for the loss of only Ronnie Hira for 71.
Opener Greg Dawson, with 50, and Neil Broom, who was on 43 at the finish, carried Canterbury to the win.
Central Districts' visit to Queenstown ended as it began, rain ruining the final day of a drawn match.
In the fifth round of games, CD host ND in New Plymouth and Wellington play Otago in the capital on Sunday, while Canterbury meet Auckland in Rangiora starting on Monday.
