Neal Parlane's determined innings takes ND to brink of lead

Northern Districts ended day two of this Shell Trophy clash with Central Districts where it began it: just ahead, but with some hard work to do to press home the advantage.

At the close ND is 261-5, needing another 29 to take first innings points. It has Neal Parlane's dogged knock of 92 to thank for being in this position.

Having resumed at 12 without loss, ND lost three wickets before lunch, the batsman looking well set in each case. Marshall was first to go, lbw to Thompson for 11.

Michael Parlane followed, attempting an extravagant off drive to a wide ball from West to be caught behind for 46. Mark Bailey was bowled by Haydn Morgan, failing to connect with a cover drive to give the young off-spinner his first wicket in first class cricket.

At 97-3 ND were in danger of throwing away the advantage created in the later stages of yesterday's play.

Neal Parlane and Grant Bradburn turned things around with a fouth wicket partnership of 131.

This was another of countless Bradburn innings where the scorecard does not reflect the importance of the knock.. He passed 4000 runs for ND, many of them made in a similar, backs to the wall, situation. He scored 57 from 166 balls before falling leg before to Thompson.

Parlane's innings was more against type. He hit 13 fours, many of them stunning shots, his driving being particularly eye-catching. But his restraint was the most impressive feature. He was prepared to wait for the right ball to hit, something that has not always happened in the past.

He was dropped by wicketkeeper McGlashan off Mason shortly after passing the fifty mark, but deserved a century. A short leg catch off Morgan denied him this ten minutes before the end.

This brought Brett Hood to the crease, having registered a pair on first class debut against Auckland last week. His nightmare almost continued when he came close to being run out at the non-striker's end.

He broke his duck with two behind square on the offside, then lifted Loveridge over square leg for the only six of the day in celebration.

CD coach Dipak Patel expressed satisfaction with his team's performance.

"We still have a chance. There was some fascinating cricket played today, on one of those pitches where if you showed patience you were rewarded. I don't like to go on about it, but the fact is that we have a young attack and it stuck to its task well.

"Obviously, we would like to have seven or eight out, but I'm pleased with the position that we are in. A couple of fifty-fifty chances going down made all the difference."

Debutant off-spinner Haydn Morgan impressed with figures of 28-13-42-2. He showed great control and got a few balls to turn sharply.

The unluckiest bowler was paceman Michael Mason, who worried every batsman to whom he bowled, finishing the day with 28-13-40-0.

Patel praised Mason's performance.

"He bowled every bit as well as he did in Wanganui last week when he took five wickets. He beat the outside edge any number of times and could easily have finished with three or four."

CD's ground fielding impressed throughout, captain Jacob Oram leading by example.

The pace of the pitch has slowed during the day. New Zealand selector Ropss Dykes, commentating for Radio Sport, said that the ball was not coming onto the bat, making stroke play difficult.

With the odd ball turning quite a bit ND will need a decent first innings lead, as they have to bat last. They will want to bat through until after lunch tomorrow, if possible.