Northern Districts just on top after a tense day in Hamilton

Northern Districts was 91-3 at the end of day three of the opening round of the Shell Trophy. They require 82 tomorrow if they are to open their defence of the title with a win.

This was a day characterised by tense, no quarter given, cricket, both sides aware that small mistakes could cost them the game.

The tension was reflected in some aggressive appealing and over reaction to umpiring decisions which resulted in a complaint from the umpires to ND skipper Robbie Hart

The first hour of the day saw yet another batting collapse, with four key wickets falling to ND's pace trio. Joseph Yovich continued to bowl fast and short, while Simon Doull and Graeme Aldridge concentrated on accuracy, letting the pitch do as much of the work as possible.

Tama Canning and Aaron Barnes led a fightback with a fifty partnership. They combined caution with a willingness to get after the bad ball. Each hit a six off one of the spinners, Bradburn and Martin.

An otherwise quiet phase of play was enlivened by a warning for verbal abuse after umpire Barry Frost had refused an appeal for a catch at short leg by Hood off Bradburn, even though the ND players had begun their celebrations for the fall of the wicket.

A mid-wicket conference between Bradburn, ND skipper Robbie Hart and the two umpires was convened a couple of overs later when the officials felt the need to express their displeasure at comments made following the decision. There may be repercussions in terms of disciplinary action, depending on the contents of official reports.

On several occasions during this game players on either side have run to congratulate those involved in the `dismissal' without bothering to wait for official judgment.

Umpires see this as intimidation. In the next English season players will be required to stay in their fielding positions until the outcome of an appeal is known. This may be an idea that will spread to the game worldwide.

The Canning/Barnes partnership ended just after lunch, the three remaining wickets following in fairly short order. Richard Morgan struck a few blows to take the Auckland total over 200, setting ND 173 to win.

Aldridge finished with four wickets, giving him nine in the match. This, along with his last wicket heroics yesterday, means that he is now firmly established as a member of the ND first class squad. When Darryl Tuffey returns from South Africa and Scott Styris is back to full fitness the depth of ND fast and medium fast bowling will be formidable.

Yovich has looked impressive throughout the game, generating real speed from a responsive surface. He deserved more than the four wickets that were his match haul.

Doull also performed well, a bowler insufficiently fit to go to South Africa, but who is fitter than than those who are there...He has cut down his pace, but more than compensates with guile and experience. His international career may have been written off prematurely.

The spinners, Bradburn and Martin, also took wickets at important times, though Martin gave away a few more runs than ND would have wanted, given the low-scoring nature of the match.

ND suffered the early loss of Michael Parlane, lbw to Morgan. Marshall and Bailey put on 62 for the second wicket before Marshall failed to clear midoff. Neal Parlane also went quickly before Bradburn joined Bailey to see ND through to the close.

Bailey is the key figure for ND. He faced 145 balls for his unbeaten 43, surviving numerous lbw appeals from Haslam, unflustered. Haslam bowled unchanged from tea to the close, conceding just 20 runs from 17 overs, but was unable to make the breakthrough.

ND remain favourites to take the game, but the pitch continues to be less than totally reliable, so Auckland will remain confident that the match can still be theirs. Tomorrow promises to be a gripping, if short, day's cricket.