Blair Tickner's second first-class bag, a Canterbury collapse and Mark Chapman's career-best first-class century - unbeaten overnight on 131* - were all features of day two of the Plunket Shield in Wellington, Invercargill and Auckland
CHAPMAN IN CHARGE
Mark Chapman has headed to stumps at his home ground of Eden Park Outer Oval unbeaten on 131, the biggest first-class effort yet in his Auckland Aces career.
Earlier, two quick strikes after lunch had seen the Aces in early trouble at 40/2 in response to ND's imposing 438 all out - maximum batting bonuses in the bank, after aggressive ND captain Joe Carter had eased past his previous first-class career best 125 to a new personal benchmark of 169. He was the final ND wicket to fall, the Aces beginning their reply in a tricky five-over period before lunch.
However, a century-stand between Martin Guptill (63) and Chapman got the hosts back on track after the break with no further loss before tea. Mitchell Santner finally picked up Guptill's wicket, but it came in luckless fashion for the batsman, the ball popping up off his body as he looked to fend, and rolling behind him onto his wicket.
Chapman was unfazed by all this as he set about building a new century-stand with captain Robbie O'Donnell, the pair set to resume their unbroken 112*-run stand for the fourth wicket tomorrow with O'Donnell 31 not out.
Northern youngster Katene Clarke, fielding under the helmet, was injured by a Guptill pull shot and substituted for the remainder of the day, in just his second first-class game.
Bonus Points (in progress): Auckland Aces 6, Northern Districts 3
TICKNER LEADS THE WAY
Last season he walked off the Basin Reserve with a four-for, having tried his heart out to get his elusive maiden five-wicket bag. He would eventually claim it at McLean Park last summer, but the memory was in Blair Tickner's mind today as he claimed Jimmy Neesham as his fifth victim to cement just his second first-class five-for in 36 games for the Central Stags.
After a 4-59 last week in Napier, Tickner's 5-96 couldn't have come at a better time for the under-pressure defending champions - the injury-hit attack now missing Seth Rance (who injured his hamstring in the previous round) in addition to experienced campaigners Doug Bracewell, Ben Wheeler and Adam Milne.
In combination with the efforts of the two 22-year-olds - three wickets for Willem Ludick and a brace for left-armer Ray Toole that closed the Firebirds' innings when they were just two run shy of a third batting bonus point, it held the host's first innings lead to 202 after they were all out for 298 in 99 overs. That conferred the maximum four out of four bowling points for the Stags in their neck and neck points race with the Firebirds at the top of the table.
The Firebirds will be disappointed not to have kicked on from a patient 95-run stand for third between Rachin Ravindra (the 20-year-old top-scoring with 76) and captain Michael Bracewell (70) in the morning session before the new ball was taken. Jimmy Neesham picked up the baton for more than two and a half hours, but his departure on 63 saw the tail knocked over just a handful of overs later.
By stumps the Stags had reduced the deficit to 78 with eight wickets in hand, with a chance to recover from their first-day nightmare that saw them bowled out for 96. Captain Greg Hay will resume on 54*, his second half century of the game with the Stags 124 for two overnight
Bonus Points (completed): Wellington Firebirds 6, Central Stags 4
OTAGO VOLTS WITH A CHANCE
Midway through their southern rumble with Canterbury, the Otago Volts have a chance of chalking up their first outright win of the season after having rolled their visitors for just 145 in 58.1 overs today in Invercargill.
Cam Fletcher's 32 was Canterbury's modest top score after wickets tumbled over in swift succession, captain Jacob Duffy and Michael Rae picking up one-day-style figures of 3-30 and 3-33 respectively, and Michael Rippon's brace keeping both the doughty Jack Boyle and Leo Carter in check.
By stumps the game had moved right along, however, the Volts seven down in their second innings for an overnight overall lead of 284.
Rippon, with the Volts' meagre top score of 21*, and Duffy (17*) will resume on the third morning looking to hang around long enough to be able to set some terms with two days' play in hand
Bonus Points (completed): Otago Volts 6, Canterbury 4
