Aaron Barnes stuns Otago

Rain came to Otago's aid on the second day of their State Championship match against Auckland on Eden Park's outer oval. Chasing the daunting target of 424, Otago were left scrambling on 131 for 6.

Otago started their chase well enough and with Chris Gaffaney and Andrew Hore carrying on from their overnight position. They took the score through to 78 for 1, before the introduction of Aaron Barnes, the medium-pacer, undid Otago. He first picked up Gaffaney's wicket. Gaffaney edged to Tim McIntosh at second slip when he had scored 42. Robert Lawson followed soon after for four and by the time Otago had reached 96, Hore had departed leg before wicket for 37.

Barnes had 3 for 12 and Otago suffered an uncomfortable lunch. After the resumption the situation worsened as Kyle Mills and Andre Adams picked up a wicket apiece and by the time the rain set in Otago had limped to 131 for 6.

An intriguing contest was set up in Gisborne as Central Districts look to save their game against Northern Districts. Jamie How, 97 not out at close, is on the verge of the third first-class century of his career, with the opportunity to go on for much longer as CD look to put the game out of ND's reach.

It was unfortunate for CD, that just before bad light caused the end of play, Jesse Ryder was dismissed, stumped for 49, having added 104 patient runs with How for the third wicket. He was just starting to go on the offensive when he failed to get onto a ball from Nick Horsley and was dismissed.

Earlier, ND's ninth-wicket pairing had taken their stand to 99 before Graeme Aldridge was dismissed for 49 and what would have been a maiden first-class half-century. His partner Ian Butler did achieve that feat when unbeaten on 51 when the declaration was applied with ND 445-9.