An all-round effort from Adam Milne and a maiden first-class
century to Tarun Nethula has put Central Districts on top
against Otago after two days of their Plunket Shield
encounter in Napier.
Resuming this morning on 367-7, Milne and Nethula continued
where they left off from day one and eventually put on 133
for the eighth wicket, which was a record for CD against
Otago and propelled the home side to a whopping first-innings
total of 476 at McLean Park.
Nethula posted 108 from 210 balls, including 13 fours, as the
leg-spinner beat his previous-best knock in four-day cricket
of 58, while Milne was the last man dismissed as he departed
for 97 - in what would have been his maiden first-class
hundred.
To ease the frustration of just missing his century, Milne
then proceeded to decimate the Otago top order as he had the
visitors reeling at 22-3.
The right-arm seamer later completed his first five-wicket
haul in the four-day game as he knocked over Derek de Boorder
and Jimmy Neesham later in the day.
Otago closed play at 232-9, with Ian Butler at the crease
unbeaten on 53, while No 11 Blair Soper was yet to score.
The visitors are 244 runs behind on the first innings, and
face a huge task in the next two days to avoid a substantial
defeat.
Milne registered figures of 5-44 from 12 overs, while import
Peter Trego picked up 3-52.
Milne's form comes at a good time, with New Zealand due to
tour South Africa next month and the ageing Chris Martin
appearing to fall out of favour with the national selectors.
He hasn't been given a start in tests on the current trip to
Sri Lanka.
At the Eden Park Outer Oval in Auckland, Colin Munro stroked
his third first-class century to ensure the home team held
the smallest of first-innings leads over Wellington by the
close of play on day two.
Munro finished the day unbeaten on 122 - his knock included
14 fours and five sixes - as Auckland closed play on 381-5 in
response to Wellington's first-up effort of 380.
Craig Cachopa was the less aggressive of the Auckland pair to
finish the day; unbeaten on 74 from 145 balls at stumps.
Earlier in the day, Auckland were in a bit of strife at 174-5
as the top order all made starts but failed to kick on past
50. Tim McIntosh, Lou Vincent, Reece Young and Colin de
Grandhomme all made scores between 31 and 46.
Wellington will need to take early wickets tomorrow to avoid
facing a large first-innings deficit.
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