Auckland face certain defeat

Auckland 101 (McSkimming 5-29) and 161 for 7 trail Otago 268 by 7 runs
Scorecard

Auckland slumped to a miserable 101 all out, crashing from their overnight 46 for 4, and then suffered further as they reached 161 for 7 after being asked to follow-on by Otago. Warren McSkimming was the wrecker-in-chief with 5 for 29. In the second innings Auckland fared only marginally better, and rapidly lost ground after reaching 42 without loss. Wickets then fell at regular intervals, and again McSkimming was in the thick of things with 3 for 37. Auckland are still seven runs behind, with only three wickets in hand, and seemingly hurtling to certain defeat.

Ewen Thompson completed his century on the second day of Central Districts' match against Canterbury at Pukekura Park. From an overnight 98 he moved to 126 off only 123 balls. His innings included 19 fours and three sixes. This pushed Central Districts' first-innings score on to 499 before they were all out. Canterbury began badly, losing Tim Papps for a duck and Tim McIntosh for 5, with the team score on 22. Peter Fulton (37 not out) and Shannan Stewart (25) then steadied the ship, taking Canterbury to 87 for 3 by the close.

Wellington 250 and 22 for 1 lead Northern Districts 242 (Flynn 62) by 14 runs
Scorecard

Northern Districts dropped from 46 for 2 to 242 all out, conceding a slender eight-run first-innings lead to Wellington. Daniel Flynn scored 62 in the middle order and formed the backbone of the innings. The wickets were shared around equally among the Wellington bowlers, with Jesse Ryder, the medium-pacer, being the most effective with 3 for 32. Wellington then responded badly, losing Matthew Bell for a duck to the bowling of Daryl Tuffey, who sent down five overs for just seven runs. Wellington were 22 for 1 at the end of the second day, leading by 14 runs.