McIntosh hundred puts Auckland in command

Rain forced an early end to the second day's play at Eden Park's Outer Oval as Otago set sail for Auckland's commanding 424. Unfortunately for Otago, they lost Mohammad Wasim, their opener, when he edged a ball from Kyle Mills to Reece Young, the wicketkeeper, to leave Otago at 15 for 1.

The day had been dominated by another outstanding display of batsmanship by one of the country's brightest young prospects, Tim McIntosh. He scored 146, his seventh first-class century. It was an innings glistening with the quality of his strokeplay.

However, the gloss was not completely taken off the Otago bowling as Jeff Wilson continued his triumphant return to first-class cricket with his second five-wicket bag of the competition, at a cost of 72 runs. More wickets were denied to him only by a hamstring strain which forced him to leave the field. It is unlikely that he will bowl again in the match. Bradley Scott, the left-arm medium-fast bowler, finished with 3 for 91.

Northern Districts took advantage of a bright and sunny day at Gisborne to bat all day and add 297 to their overnight score, with most of their batsmen, right down to the tailenders, getting among the runs. None scored a century, though, the highest being Scott Styris's 80. Grant Robinson made 62, while James Marshall and Joseph Yovich scored 59 each. At close of play Graeme Aldridge, batting at No. 9, was unbeaten on 40, with Ian Butler on 36, both having achieved their highest first-class scores.

Styris and Robinson shared a fine 102-run stand for the sixth wicket while Robinson and Yovich added 108 for the seventh. Aldridge and Butler then put together 69 for the unfinished ninth-wicket partnership. It was tough going for the Central Districts bowlers and the spinners, Regan West and Glen Sulzberger, did most of the bowling. West took 3 for 80 and Sulzberger 2 for 117.