Gillespie consigns Canterbury to innings defeat

Wellington 512 for 9 dec beat Canterbury 181 and 222 (Ellis 56, Gillespie 4-54) by an innings and 109 runs
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Wellington gave Dave Nosworthy, Canterbury's coach, the worst possible start to his tenure with an emphatic innings and 109-run victory at the Village Green, Christchurch. Beginning the day following on 331 runs behind Wellington's 512 first innings, Canterbury was again quickly in trouble. Mark Gillespie (4 for 54) carved through the top order, while Iain O'Brien, Jeetan Patel and Luke Woodcock picked up two wickets apiece. Of the Canterbury batsmen, only Andrew Ellis (56) offered any meaningful resistance as the home side folded to be all out for 222. The game was highlighted by brilliant centuries to Wellington's Jesse Ryder and Michael Parlane, and the return to cricket following surgery for Stephen Fleming, the New Zealand captain.

Otago 448 and 81 for 3 beat Northern Districts 229 and 229 (Flynn 107, Redmond 4-79) by seven wickets
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Otago wrapped up a win against Northern Districts at Gisborne to get its State Championship season off to a perfect start. Otago chased down 81 for victory with the loss of three wickets. Jonathan Trott (29*) and Greg Todd (26*) were the not out batsmen. For the first time in the match though, Northern showed some real resistance, forcing Otago to bat again after positing 299 in its second innings. That was mainly due to Daniel Flynn. The 20-year-old left-hander scored his maiden first-class century, going through to 107 before Aaron Redmond, dismissed for 99 the previous day, dismissed him after a 328-minute stay. Redmond (4 for 79) capped a fine allround performance as he ripped through the Northern middle order, while Nathan McCullum picked up Peter McGlashan (64), who completed a useful match double after 40 in the first innings.

Central Districts 224 and 399 for 5 (Taylor 92, Engelfield 70*) drew with Auckland 327 and 276 for 8 (Jones 114, Diamanti 6-73)
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Auckland and Central Districts played out a dramatic end to a match that looked headed nowhere after Auckland posted a 103-run lead on the first innings. Central cruised to 399-5 in its second innings with Ross Taylor the star with 92 from 84 balls. Jarrod Engelfield scored a more sedate 70 not out, while Kerry Walmsley took four wickets. Jamie How, the Central captain, made a surprisingly generous declaration, leaving Auckland 54 overs to score 297 on a perfect wicket. Richard Jones, the Auckand captain, led the way with 114, his 10th first-class century. Tim McIntosh supplemented his first innings century with 46. However Brendon Diamanti was Central's saviour, taking 6 for 73, leaving him with 11 for the match. Auckland finished on 276 for 8.