Wellington's lower order fired with the bat and its bowlers made early inroads as it moved into a strong position at stumps on day two of its Plunket Shield four-day cricket match against Otago at the Basin Reserve.
The match was delicately poised as play resumed yesterday, with Wellington 77 for three in pursuit of 208 for first innings points.
A confident innings of 90 from young batsman Michael Pollard and good support from Harry Boam (39), wicketkeeper Joe Austin-Smellie (28 from 19 balls) and No 11 Jayde Herrick (13) saw the hosts bag the two points - its first of the season.
Wellington was able to press on to 320 all out, a lead of 113 runs, and Herrick was able to capitalise on the advantage.
He took two early wickets, and Boam chipped in with a third, as Otago went to stumps at 84 for three, still 29 runs shy of making Wellington bat again.
The in-form Neil Broom may hold the key to Otago's chances of setting a challenging target with the former international unbeaten on 50.
It will take a miracle for Northern Districts to avoid a hefty defeat to Canterbury at Whangarei.
Northern Districts trails Canterbury by 135 runs with only six wickets in hand after slumping to 72 for four in its second dig at stumps on the second day.
Canterbury, starting the day at 110 for one and trailing the home team's paltry first innings total by just nine runs, was eventually dismissed for 326, an innings highlighted by opener Rob Nicol's ninth first-class hundred.
His knock ended at 101 but fine contributions from No 6 Tom Latham (53) and legspinner Todd Astle, who added an unbeaten 44, ensured the visitors were able to post a significant first innings lead of 207.
Northern Districts could not have made a worse start to its second innings with the top four batsmen, including the experienced pair of Michael Parlane and skipper James Marshall, all back in the pavilion before the team total had reached 50.
An unbeaten century from Tim Weston not only got Central Districts out of a spot of bother, but well into the driver's seat after two days of its Plunket Shield match against Auckland at Auckland.
A mid-innings stutter threatened to halt the visitors' charge towards Auckland's meagre first innings total of 180 as Kieran Noema-Barnett, Kruger van Wyk and Doug Bracewell were all dismissed without scoring, leaving Central Districts in trouble at 127 for seven.
Cue a revival led by Weston, who smacked an unbeaten 115 off just 149 balls, just his second hundred from 39 first-class matches.
He was initially supported by Rance, whose 22 helped Central Districts edge past Auckland's tally, while legspinner Tarun Nethula (39) and No 11 Mitchell McClenaghan (10) played crucial roles as the visitors posted 296, a lead of 116.
The seamers did the damage for Auckland, with Colin Munro taking four for 36, Michael Bates three for 61 and Andre Adams three for 102.
Auckland started the day on 133 for five in its first innings, but Doug Bracewell struck early for Central Districts and Nethula cleaned up the tail.
Auckland was 32 for one at stumps.
