Cricket: Woodcock's patient ton lifts Wellington

Luke Woodcock's maiden first-class century, patient enough to join the all-time "slow" list, might yet prove a match-winner for Wellington in their State Championship final battle with Auckland.

Woodcock's unbridled joy in reaching the milestone will mean even more to the amiable opener if it clinches the match today.

At stumps, again called early in the fading light on Eden Park's outer oval, Auckland, needing to score 208 for victory or at least bat out the remaining 96 overs, were 52-1 with Richard Jones unbeaten on 24.

Wellington needed 129 overs to dismiss Auckland in their first innings.

With the pitch remaining as benign as it has been from day one, the Wellington attack face a testing challenge.

Resuming yesterday morning at 111-4 with Woodcock unbeaten on 41, the visitors, who must win outright to deny Auckland the title, mixed it up.

Woodcock remained unflappable, while Chris Nevin responded to the challenge with some aggressive strokeplay.

Giving Woodcock a 42-run start, Nevin caught him when they reached 64, with Woodcock at that point having batted 185 minutes longer.

Nevin hit 68 before being trapped by Andre Adams.

The 101-run, sixth-wicket partnership - in 121 minutes - may prove decisive, helping to take Auckland's target beyond 200.

Mark Gillespie chipped in with 14 of a 22-run, eighth-wicket partnership as Kerry Walmsley threatened to end it quickly.

It was then left to an unlikely hero, No 11 Azhar Abbas, to help Woodcock and Wellington through.

In taking 421 minutes for his century, Woodcock slotted in at fifth on the all-time list of the slowest tons in domestic cricket.

"I knew I had been out there for a while," he said later, still beaming.

"I had faith in the No 11 [Abbas] and just kept chipping away.

Woodcock added: "It has been a long time coming."