Vincent hundred lifts Auckland

Central Districts 350 lead Auckland 345 for 8 (Vincent 146*, Horne 76, Hamilton 5-64) by 5 runs
Scorecard

Lou Vincent played one of his best innings in recent times, scoring an unbeaten 146 to lift Auckland to 345 for 8 at close of play on the second day at the Outer Oval. They now needed just six runs to take the first-innings points.

Vincent was in superb form, batting for 246 minutes and facing 214 balls. Auckland had earlier lost their way after a solid 113-run stand for the second wicket between Matt Horne and Rob Nicol. Horne scored 76 before he was dismissed while Nicol made a patient 35.

While the other Auckland batsmen had trouble handling Lance Hamilton's bowling, Vincent did a fine job, and was within 13 runs of equalling his highest first-class score at stumps. Hamilton, who has proven one of the most durable of Central Districts' battery of medium-fast bowlers, ended the day with 5 for 64.

Otago 308 and 145 for 5 (Sheed 77*) lead Canterbury 198 (Astle 53, McMillan 51, Scott 4-47) by 255 runs
Scorecard

A collapse which saw the last six Canterbury wickets fall for 39 runs allowed Otago a 110-run lead on the first innings of their State Championship match at the University Oval. By close of play on the third day, Otago had extended that lead to 255, and still had five second-innings wickets in hand.

Jordan Sheed held Otago's batting together with an unbeaten 77, his highest first-class score. At close of play he was batting with first-innings century-maker Greg Todd.

There was a period during the Canterbury innings when it seemed the experience of Nathan Astle and Craig McMillan could prove sufficient to get them out of trouble. Astle scored 53 off 92 balls and McMillan 51 off 76, but they both fell to smart catches - Astle to Sheed at gully and McMillan to Chris Gaffaney at point.

Jeff Wilson claimed Astle's wicket, but the majority of the subsequent damage was done by Brad Scott who took 4 for 47 as Canterbury were all out for 198. Wilson took two for 41.