Another century to Mathew Sinclair could not prevent Auckland completing a resounding Plunket Shield cricket win over Central Districts today.
Auckland won the match on the fourth afternoon by an innings and 93 runs after dismissing Central Districts in their second innings for 273 at Colin Maiden Park in Auckland.
Sinclair held them up with a fighting 129, striking 17 boundaries in a stay of more than five hours after he resumed this morning on 32 with his team on 119 for three.
Central Districts' task was to bat the entire day and deny Auckland maximum points but left-arm seamer Michael Bates undermined their hopes with a career-best performance.
After watching his batsmen pile on 635 for six declared, Bates came to the party for his side, taking five for 71 off 27 overs, his best figures at this level in 16 matches.
The only resistance from Sinclair and his overnight partner Brendon Diamanti, but once Diamanti was dismissed for 57 this morning the visitors' fate became increasingly predictable.
Sinclair did his best to frustrate Auckland though, scoring his 30th first-class century and his 21st for Central Districts, but it was all to no avail as Auckland completed their second outright victory of the season.
