KEY POINTS:
An outstanding six-over opening spell from Daryl Tuffey yesterday wasn't enough to secure Auckland their elusive first win in this year's State Shield one-day cricket competition.
After winning the toss and electing to bat, Auckland were left defending a less-than-impressive 197 from 49.1 overs at Wellington's Basin Reserve.
They came closer than expected, thanks mainly to Tuffey's sterling work early on into a strength-sapping northwesterly, but Wellington picked a four-wicket win with just under two overs to spare.
Auckland looked shaky at 14 for two, before captain Richard Jones and newcomer Anaru Kitchen put on 85 for the third wicket. Jones was dismissed for 39 with the score on 99, Reece Young disappearing two balls later without adding to the score, trapped leg before wicket by the left-arm orthodox spin of Luke Woodcock.
Woodcock finished with 3-27 off eight overs, with Graeme Napier's 4-40 off 10 the pick of the bowling.
Kitchen's 65 off 93 balls, backed up by English import Steve Croft's 39, gave Auckland a barely respectable total to defend, but Tuffey gave them the best possible start with three wickets in the opening seven overs.
The former Black Cap picked up the invaluable wicket of Wellington captain Matthew Bell, caught scoreless after only five balls by Martin Guptill's superb dive at cover point.
Nine balls later Neil Parlane was caught behind by Gareth Hopkins, again off the bowling of Tuffey, with the total on three.
B.J. Crook and James Franklin put on 98 for the fourth wicket before Franklin was caught behind off Tuffey for 38. Crook went on to anchor the innings, his 75 coming off 136 balls. But Chris Nevin (52) tied up the match for Wellington with a four in the 49th over.
In Rangiora, a superb 94-run stand from Hamish and James Marshall steered Northern Districts to a four-wicket triumph over Canterbury.
Chasing Canterbury's 253 for six, Northern reached 257 for six in 47.1 overs for their second win.
Batting first after winning the toss, Canterbury looked steady in reaching 253 for six off their 50 overs.
Iain Robertson scored 54 and Michael Papps added 34. Peter Fulton's 52 off 68 balls and Shanan Stewart's 40 off 34 steadied the innings. Hamish Marshall and B.J. Watling's partnership was broken with the score on 60 when Chris Harris threw down the stumps to remove Watling for 17.
Michael Parlane added another 34 runs with Hamish Marshall before Shane Bond clean-bowled him.
That brought James Marshall in, and the twins wasted little time.
James was dismissed on 51, but Hamish made 113 off 105 balls.
In Alexandra, a stellar performance with both ball and bat from captain Craig Cumming helped Otago upset competition leaders Central Districts by eight wickets at Molyneux Park.
Cumming took 1-17 off his 10 overs as Central made just 188 for eight off their 50 overs. He also contributed 70 as Otago reached 191 for two in the 39th over for a bonus-point win.
- NZPA
