Lower order saves face for Auckland on opening day

Auckland suffered a middle-order collapse in its two-day warm-up game with Central Districts in Wanganui yesterday.

Auckland finally reached 276 thanks largely to an 81 not out by No 3 batsman Richard King and an 80 by No 9 Tane Topia. Richard Morgan also helped out with 20 batting at No 10.

Ewan Thompson with his medium-pace left-armers proved the destroyer, finishing with 5-23. Michael Mason took 2-51.

By stumps, Central Districts had replayed with 10-0. Jacob Hill was six not out and David Kelly 2 not out.