Northern Districts extend lead

Centuries from Otago's Aaron Redmond (121) and Neil Broom (101) negated the follow-on and a five-wicket haul by Northern Districts' Graeme Aldridge, the right-arm fast-medium bowler, to help their side to 408 for 8 on the third day at Hamilton's Seddon Park. Aldridge's 5 for 75 assured State Championship leaders ND first-innings points, but a declaration put them back in to bat before stumps. When bad light ended the day's play early - already delayed by rain - ND were 47 for 0, an overall lead of 162, with one day to play.

Richard Jones, Auckland's captain, hit his second hundred of the match but rain halted his team's follow-up innings against Central Districts at the Eden Park Outer Oval. Jones hit 120 as Auckland made 274 for 4 before rain intervened for the final time on an interrupted third day's play. Rob Nicol (51 not-out) was at the crease with Auckland 364 runs ahead going into the final day of the match.

Grant Elliott and Stu Mills added 118 for the sixth wicket to give Wellington an outside chance to clinch first-innings points on day three of their match against Canterbury at Christchurch. In reply to Canterbury's 613 for 7, Elliot hit an unbeaten 73 and Mills and unbeaten 54 as Wellington recovered from 193 for 5 to 316 without further loss. Hamish Bennett, the right-arm fast bowler, and Todd Astle, a part-time legspinner, picked up two wickets to slow Auckland's process from an overnight 55 for no loss.