Rain and the only two teams who cannot win the Plunket Shield four-day cricket competition, the Auckland Aces and Otago Volts, combined to play the spoiler's role on the opening day of the 10th and final round of matches today.
Only 13.4 overs of play were possible in the match between leaders the Canterbury Wizards and third-placed Northern Knights in Rangiora but second-placed Central Stags, who along with Northern trail the leaders by four points, and fourth-placed Wellington, a further two points behind, failed to capitalise.
Competition stragglers Auckland, a whopping 25 points off the pace, were sent in at Nelson Park in Napier and bucked their trend with the bat this season, applying themselves well to end the day in a commanding position at 267 for two against a Central Districts side who failed to make use of favourable early conditions.
Jeet Raval stroked 100 before being caught on the boundary from the bowling of Michael Mason, the opener's third first-class century the feature of a day which was punctuated by bad light.
Raval put on 101 runs for the first wicket with test opener Tim McIntosh, who scored 56, and 109 for the second wicket with Andrew de Boorder, who will resume tomorrow on 60. Anaru Kitchen is 30 not out.
Central must win outright to have a chance of surpassing Canterbury but they will need more penetration from their frontline bowlers, with captain Jamie How forced to use seven bowlers in just 85 overs as he forlornly searched for wickets at Nelson Park.
In Queenstown, Otago captain Craig Cumming thwarted Wellington's attack for most of the day before falling nine runs short of what would have been his fourth century of the season, sparking the loss of three wickets for 22 runs in the final session.
Still, the home team is comfortably placed at 213 for four after opting to bat first at the Queenstown Events Centre with only New Zealand fast bowler Andy McKay, fresh off a plane from the one-day World Cup, causing them significant concern.
The left-armer bowled with pace and precision to snare three for 48 from 20 overs, and probably holds the key to Wellington's chances of securing an outright result in the remaining three days. Like Central Districts, Wellington must win outright to have a chance of claiming the title.
With their nearest rivals off the pace, Canterbury will sleep well tonight despite rain ruining their day in Rangiora.
In what play was possible, opening bowler Matt Henry ripped through the Northern Districts top order to have the visitors in strife at 36 for three.
Henry, who is averaging just 12.18 with the ball from his first three first-class matches, has taken three for 26.
NZPA
