Munro puts Auckland on even footing

Otago seamer Michael Rae sends down a delivery during a Plunket Shield match against Auckland at the University Oval yesterday. Photo by Gerard O'Brien.
Otago seamer Michael Rae sends down a delivery during a Plunket Shield match against Auckland at the University Oval yesterday. Photo by Gerard O'Brien.
Just when Auckland's Colin Munro looked like he was about to get out - he went and swatted three sixes in an over.

That is how the hard-hitting left-hander bats. It is high risk and he was rewarded for his audacity yesterday with his 13th first-class century.

Auckland had slumped to 43 for four but Munro's wonderfully aggressive knock of 102 from just 85 deliveries got the visiting side back on an even footing at stumps on day two of its Plunket Shield match against Otago at the University Oval.

Mitchell McClenaghan (47) and Rajvinder Sandhu (26) added 73 in a damaging ninth-wicket stand to help Auckland reach 304, while Black Caps fast bowler Lockie Ferguson picked up three quick wickets in the morning to help bowl Otago out for 282. He finished with five for 53, his sixth first-class five-wicket haul.

Otago will resume on six for one, trailing by just 16 runs with nine second-innings wickets in hand.

The game is very much in the balance, Volts coach Rob Walter said.

''A deficit of 20-odd is probably a fair reflection,'' Walter said.

''We definitely had a little window where we might have got ourselves in front.

''At about 50 for four, I thought we might have pushed a little harder to get Colin out. But after that he got away a little bit.''

He certainly did. Otago changed the ball shortly after the lunch break and was probably wishing it could have the old one back.

Munro attacked, belting Wells for three sixes in the 27th over.

He took a step down the wicket and dispatched the first back over the bowler's head. The second went in a similar direction while the third was pummelled over cover but hit just as clean as the first two strikes.

Munro has his detractors, but when he is in full flight he is the most destructive player on the domestic circuit.

Nathan Smith also felt Munro's power as the South African-born 30-year-old slammed six sixes and nine boundaries during his stay at the crease.

''It was a typical knock from Munro. It was high risk and one which you can potentially get him out at any point. But he hit the ball well and I guess if you take his hundred out of their innings ... we would have been well on top.''

Earlier, Otago resumed on 266 for seven with Wells unbeaten on 46 and Smith at the wicket with him on 12.

Wells brought up his 20th first-class half century but was out trying to pull a short delivery from Ferguson.

Ferguson then homed in on the stumps and bowled both Jack Hunter (nought) and Michael Rae (four) to close the Otago innings for the addition of just a further 16 runs. His extra pace proved the undoing of Otago's tail.

In Nelson, Central Districts is 247 for six in reply to Canterbury's first-innings total of 388. Will Young is undefeated on 102.

At Bay Oval in Mt Maunganui, Northern Districts is 252 for eight having dismissed Wellington for a paltry 151 in its first innings.

Add a Comment

OUTSTREAM