The Wellington Firebirds's cautious approach backfired on the second day of their Plunket Shield four-day cricket match against the Auckland Aces at Colin Maiden Park in Auckland today.
Resuming their first innings today at 65 for two, the visitors crawled through the 81 overs that were available to score 192 runs for the loss of seven wickets, reaching 257 for nine midway through the rain-affected match.
But, with no play possible in the other two matches because of rain, fifth-placed the Wellington Firebirds should feel that they missed a prime opportunity to make considerable ground on the leaders after a poor final session cost them a chance of posting an imposing total.
They had been sitting pretty at 173 for three but the dismissal of captain Grant Elliott for 65, scored from 142 balls and in a tick over three hours, and Auckland's decision to take the new ball triggered a now common middle and lower order collapse as Wellington lost six wickets for 83.
Evergreen BLACKCAPS test bowler Chris Martin did most of the damage, ending the day with four for 47 from 26 overs.
Wellington have 17 points, 11 behind leaders the Central Stags, but their batting is costing them in the title race.
They collapsed dreadfully on the final day against the Canterbury Wizards last week when outright victory seemed a formality and they will again be lamenting their fortunes with the willow.
Elliott's 65 was the top score while opener Stephen Murdoch battled for 63 and Neal Parlane faced 134 balls for 42, all worthy efforts but not the big scores Wellington would have been looking for against the competition stragglers.
After rain severely cut short the first day at the other two venues, any hope of play today was dashed soon after lunch when the respective umpires put the teams out of their misery again.
Northern are 21 for one batting first against Central at Napier, while Otago are 69 for four batting first against Canterbury at Rangiora.
Both matches are destined to become one-innings affairs unless the captains use declarations and forfeiting of innings to manufacture an outright result.
NZPA
