After completing the nearest neighbour round late last year the provincial Under 18 teams finished the second round of three-day matches at Lincoln University near Christchurch today.
Auckland top the table with six points after completing the only outright win of the competition with Canterbury and Northern Districts sharing second spot with four points apiece.
There is a rest day tomorrow followed by three rounds of 50-over and Twenty20 competition.
Auckland v Otago
Full scorecard: http://scoring.blackcaps.co.nz/livescoring/match995/scorecard.aspx
Auckland secured the only outright win of the competition when they beat Otago by and innings and 46 runs.
Otago were kept to 171 in their first innings after being put into bat by Auckland. The total could have been a lot less had Rheubyn Prattley not blasted an unbeaten 63 off 49 balls at the end of the innings.
Opener Simon Middleton provided the backbone for the Auckland side with a superb 149 while wicketkeeper batsman Cameron Fletcher chipped in with a useful 61 before they declared on 407 for seven. After featuring with the bat, Prattley returned Otago’s best figures with three for 52.
There were a few middling contributions in Otago’s second innings but they could only make 193 - handing Auckland the win. Auckland’s Matt Quinn was outstanding in both innings, picking up four for 22 and four for 49. New ball bowler Sean Solia was also in good form taking five for 70 for the match.
Central Districts v Canterbury
Full scorecard - http://scoring.blackcaps.co.nz/livescoring/match993/scorecard.aspx
Canterbury secured first innings points in their match against Central Districts after winning the toss and electing to bowl.
Central managed 279 largely thanks to William Young’s 85 and Connor Neynen’s 60 while Canterbury edged past with 282 for four declared. Canterbury opener Andrew McCracken top scored with a fine unbeaten 120 while William Williams struck 69.
The Central batting line up were more settled in their second innings, declaring on 259 for seven to leave Canterbury a run chase of 256. It was Young and Neynen who starred again for Central with 66 and 65 not out respectively.
Central had Canterbury in early trouble, removing both openers for ducks but Tim Hampton-Matehe (37) and Arnie Yugaraja (40) steadied the innings. The match then petered out to a draw with Ken McClure there at the end on 54.
Northern Districts v Wellington
Full scorecard - http://scoring.blackcaps.co.nz/livescoring/match994/scorecard.aspx
Northern Districts picked up first innings points in their match against Wellington after making a useful 347 and then keeping Wellington to 204.
There were a number of contributions in Northern’s innings with Sean Davey’s 79 the best. Niki Zivkovic collected wickets throughout the innings for Wellington and was rewarded with great figures of six for 71 off 29 overs.
Wellington were quickly reduced to 41 for five before a fighting 70 by Henry Walsh gave the scorecard some respectability. New ball bowlers Matthew Gurrey and Thomas Herman were the chief destroyers taking four wickets each.
Northern then hit 201 in 42 overs to set Wellington a target of 345 to win. They managed 282 for seven before stumps were pulled with Sam Keegan making a fine 125 for Wellington.
Points after two three-day matches:
Central - 0
Canterbury - 4
Northern - 4
Otago - 0
Auckland - 6
Wellington - 2
