Cricket: Weston's ton gives CD hope

CD's Matthew Sinclair swings out. Photo / Paul Estcourt

A brilliant undefeated century by Taranaki batsman Tim Weston has put Central Districts in a strong position after two days of their Plunket Shield game with Auckland at Colin Maiden Park.

The 28-year-old Weston scored 115 off 149 balls with 11 fours as Central reached 296 after taking the last five Auckland first-innings wickets in the first hour yesterday to dismiss the home team for a disappointing 180.

At stumps Auckland had reached 32 for one wicket in their second innings.

Central lost their first two wickets for five runs. Then sometime Black Caps Peter Ingram and Mathew Sinclair added 69. Ingram departed for a scratchy 25 but Sinclair raced to 70 off 97 balls before he fell to Andrew de Boorder off Colin Munro's bowling with the total on 112.

Weston, who had come in at the fall of Ingram's wicket, saw four wickets fall in four overs as Central slumped to 127 for seven. He received good support from Seth Rance (22) and then Tarun Nethula (39) as they passed Auckland's total and began to punish the Auckland attack.

When Nethula was leg before to Munro at 247, Weston still needed 17 for his hundred and last-man Mitchell McClenaghan stayed around long enough to ensure that he got his second first-class ton.

Meanwhile in Whangarei, Northern Districts were left needing a miracle if they hoped to avoid defeat to Canterbury.

ND still trail Canterbury by 135 runs with only six wickets in hand after they slumped to 72 for four in their second dig at stumps on the second day.

Canterbury, who had started the day at 110 for one and trailing the home team's paltry first innings total by nine runs, were eventually dismissed for 326, an innings highlighted by opener Rob Nicol's ninth first-class hundred.

At the Basin Reserve, Wellington's lower order fired with the bat and their bowlers made early inroads as they moved into a strong position at stumps against Otago.

The match was delicately poised as play resumed with Wellington 77 for three in pursuit of 208 for first innings points, but a confident innings of 90 from young batsman Michael Pollard and good support from Harry Boam (39), wicketkeeper Joe Austin-Smellie (28 from 19 balls) and No 11 Jayde Herrick (13) saw the hosts bag the two points.

They were able to press on to 320 all out, a lead of 113 runs., Herrick took two early wickets, and Boam chipped in with a third, as Otago went to stumps at 84 for three, still 29 runs shy of making Wellington bat again.

The in-form Neil Broom is on 50. Nightwatchman Nick Beard will resume with him today on eight.

- Additional reporting: NZPA