The final day of the match between Auckland and Northern Districts brought no result between the two sides, as weather once again disrupted play.
Auckland declared early on in the day, well behind Nortthern's total in an effort to stop their rivals from collecting any bonus points. Northern then made Auckland follow on, but couldn't dismiss them in time as rain came to the Aces rescue.
Day two was also washed out, leaving little chance of an overall result.
Day three: Top ton from Flynn as Test looms
Daniel Flynn has his eye well and truly in before joining the Black Caps for the third test against South Africa starting in Wellington on Friday.
The doughty left-hander warmed up for his recall to the test ranks by scoring 123 not out in Northern Districts’ first innings of 351 for eight on the third play of their Plunket Shield match against Auckland.
Auckland responded by reaching 39 for one by stumps at home at Colin Maiden Park after rain forced the teams from the field just before 5pm then bad light kept them there.
Having already lost the entire second day to adverse weather, more interruptions were the last thing Auckland wanted after entering the game seeking a win to leap frog the Knights atop the standings with one round remaining.
A result now looks most unlikely unless the Aces, who will resume tomorrow with Jeet Raval on 10 and Neal Parlane on six, declare well behind in the hope they are set a gettable target in the last innings.
Earlier, after resuming on 68 with the competition-leading Knights on 266 for six, Flynn reeled off his third shield century of the season, striking 11 fours and five sixes as he upped the tempo .
Flynn batted for just short of four hours to totally dominate a scorecard which featured 54 from opener Brad Wilson before the scheduled second day was lost to heavy rain.
His overnight batting partner Graeme Aldridge stuck around for close to an hour as Flynn went on the attack against a bowling line up best served by Michael Bates, who finished with three for 60 off 22 overs.
Fellow fast bowler Mitchell McClenaghan took two for 88 while left-arm spinner Bruce Martin copped some punishment before finishing with three for 111 off 28 overs.
Day two: Leaders kept waiting by weather
Northern Districts’ hopes of sealing the Plunket Shield with a round to spare have been dealt a heavy blow by the weather.
The second day of their match against Auckland was lost to rain at Colin Maiden Park and more poor weather is expected over coming days in Auckland.
That left the Knights at their first day score of 266 for six in their first innings, with Daniel Flynn denied the chance to press on from his 68 not out.
Northern Districts entered the ninth round at the head of the standings on 89 points, 15 ahead of Auckland, and an outright win in their favour would secure them the shield ahead of the final round of matches .
Day one: Flynn celebrates call up with more runs
Daniel Flynn has reacted to his recall to the New Zealand test team by doing what he enjoys most: scoring runs.
The gritty Northern Districts left-hander, who has been named in the Black Caps squad for the third test against South Africa, got his eye in by making 68 not on the first day of the ninth round Plunket Shield match against Auckland.
Flynn struck seven fours and one six off 119 balls to guide the Knights to 266 for six when bad light forced an early close at Colin Maiden Park in Auckland.
Others among the runs included opener Brad Wilson, who made 54 in just under two hours, Hamish Marshall with a boundary-laden 49, and Anton Devcich with 42.
One batsman to miss out was James Marshall, who marked his record 116th first-class appearance for the Knights by making 13 before offering a catch off spinner Bruce Martin.
Martin ended the day with figures of two for 90 off 23 overs while fast bowlers Mitchell McClenaghan and Michael Bates also picked up two wickets apiece.
