Sewell and McSkimming sink Canterbury

Auckland suffered a batting collapse on the second day of their State Shield match against Northern Districts at the Eden Park Outer Oval in Auckland. They slipped from 12 for 1 to 153 all out. The wickets were shared around for Northern Districts, with Mark Orchard being returning the best figures - 3 for 33. None of the batsmen got going, and Carl Cachopa, who topscored with 23, managed 2 less than the extras. Auckland conceded a 109-run lead, and were all out for 153. Northern Districts scored 48 for the loss of one wicket in the second innings, and are well placed to push home the advantage on the third day.

Jesse Ryder and Michael Parlane piled on the runs and made Central Districts suffer at the Fitzherbert Park as Wellington racked up 587 for 8 at the end of the second day's play. From an overnight 198 for 2, Wellington advanced steadily as Ryder compiled a 475-ball 236 and Parlane made 136. They shared in a mammoth 310-run partnership for the third wicket and took Wellington to a strong position. The batsmen who came after Ryder and Parlane did not score heavily, but they didn't need to either, for the job had already been done for Wellington.

Canterbury managed 219 in their first innings and Otago and then proceeded to seal a slender lead as Otago slumped to 203 all out in their first dig. David Sewell (5 for 51) and Warren McSkimming shared nine wickets between them. It was then Paul Wiseman's turn to play his part in a match dominated by bowlers. He took 5 for 48, bowling out Otago for just 203, with Aaron Redmond (53) scoring the only half-century of the match. Canterbury were then struggling once more as they reached 23 for 2 in their second innings.