Cricket: Advantage to Otago, thanks to two tons

Otago has its nose in front halfway through its Plunket Shield match against Wellington in the capital.

At the end of the second day of the four-day game, Otago is 69 runs in front and has two wickets left in its first innings.

The side will look to push on this morning, trying to get as big a lead as possible before having a second look at the Wellington batsmen.

The visiting team managed to get ahead of Wellington yesterday, thanks to centuries from Jesse Ryder and Derek de Boorder.

Otago quickly grabbed the final Wellington wicket and then set off to overhaul the Wellington total.

But it rather stumbled in its pursuit of Wellington's 272 and lost wickets at regular intervals.

In fact, when Sam Wells went first ball, half of Otago's batsmen were back in the pavilion and the side was not even halfway to the Wellington total.

But Ryder found a willing partner in de Boorder and the pair put on 103 runs before Ryder went for 108, 70 of his runs coming in boundaries.

It was Ryder's 20th first-class century.

Wicketkeeper de Boorder then continued Otago's run-gathering and he is unbeaten on 116, his third first-class century.

With de Boorder is Craig Smith on nine.

The last two partnerships of the day added more than 100 runs and Otago will resume on 341 for eight.

Best of the bowlers for Wellington was forgotten left-armer Andy McKay, while Jeetan Patel started well, picking up a couple of wickets but then could not add to his tally.

Meanwhile, Northern Districts is in complete control after three days of its match against Central Districts in New Plymouth.

Relying to Northern's formidable total of 556 for nine declared, CD was dismissed in it first innings yesterday for 401.

Greg Hay put up plenty of resistance for the home side as he top-scored with 157.

New Zealand test quick Doug Bracewell chipped in with 78 at No 8 and Tom Bruce also made a half-century.

Paceman Scott Kuggeleijn was the best of the Northern bowlers with three for 77.

Following on, CD was 17 for two in its second innings, still 138 short of making ND bat again.

In the third match, Auckland was making all the running after dismissing Canterbury for 268 on the second day of their match in Rangiora.

In reply, Auckland was 358 for five, opener Jeet Raval leading the way with 126 and Robbie O'Donnell chiming in with 94.

Donovan Grobbelaar was not out on 52.