Cricket: Time for siesta in Rangiora

Canterbury and Northern Districts are locked in a dour arm-wrestle for first-innings points midway through their match at Dudley Park, in Rangiora.

At stumps on the second day, Northern were 127 for three in pursuit of Canterbury's 344.

Apart from a flurry of Canterbury lower-order wickets falling immediately after lunch, yesterday's play meandered at a snail's pace in searing heat when a siesta was more appropriate than a short single.

Only 214 runs were eked from 106.2 overs in six-and-a-half hours. Northern left-arm spin bowler Bruce Martin achieved the most significant individual milestone by extending his sequence of five-wicket bags on Canterbury pitches.

Michael Parlane also continued his run of useful scores at Canterbury's expense, only to top-edge an attempted hook against Hayden Shaw just before stumps. With 45, he was still the day's highest scorer.

Fellow opener James Marshall qualified for the unluckiest dismissal.

He chopped a ball from Canterbury left-arm spinner Carl Anderson on to the boot of wicketkeeper Gareth Hopkins, only for it to ricochet into the hands of Chris Harris at slip.

- NZPA