Richardson takes Auckland to brink of victory

Auckland dominated the second day of their State Championship match against Central Districts at Fitzherbert Park, Palmerston North. At the close CD were 57 for six, needing another 132 to win the game. On a pitch that continues to be well short of first-class standard, an Auckland victory tomorrow should be a formality.

The highlight of the day was a partnership of 112 between Mark Richardson and Lou Vincent for Auckland's third wicket. In a low-scoring match it was worth double its value and was the decisive factor in giving their team control of the game.

Things looked very different when Vincent joined Richardson in the first over of the day after Michael Mason had trapped Tim McIntosh leg before wicket. Auckland were 43 short of making CD bat again, with eight wickets left. One more wicket and the game might have been over by lunch.

Both men were positive from the start, always on the alert for scoring opportunities, but not taking unnecessary risks. Their shot selection was outstanding.

Inevitably, they rode their luck at times, but what fortune they received was deserved reward for the best batting of the game. The rearing bounce that caused so many problems on the first day was less evident, but it remained a pitch unworthy of trust.

A bigger factor was the decline in the quality of the CD bowling and fielding. Yesterday the bowling had been uniformly testing and the fielding razor-sharp. Today chances were dropped and easy runs were on offer.

Spells from Campbell Furlong and Lance Hamilton conceded 32 runs from five overs and 30 from seven respectively. Hamilton was a shadow of the bowler who took six wickets in the first innings.

That Vincent hit 10 fours in reaching his half-century is further evidence that there was too much loose bowling on offer.

Glen Sulzberger dropped Vincent at first slip when the batsman was in the twenties. Like the two other chances that were put down - a caught and bowled by Sulzberger and one in the deep by 12th man Brent Hefford - it was difficult, but would have changed the course of the game if taken.

In bowling partnership with Andrew Schwass, Sulzberger did much to staunch the flow of runs when he came on after morning drinks. He made the breakthrough, having Richardson caught by Peter Ingram at short leg for 86 from 154 balls with 15 fours. During his innings Richardson passed the landmark of 7000 first-class runs.

Vincent guided Auckland to 240 for four before top edging Schwass to David Kelly at square leg for 75, including 12 fours.

Before Vincent's dismissal 175 runs had been scored today for the loss of three wickets. From then until the close, 12 wickets fell for 113 runs as the bowling improved and the pitch reasserted itself, low bounce replacing rearing deliveries as the main challenge to batsmen.

Three wickets fell in six balls, two of them to Schwass who has reclaimed his status as leading State Championship wicket-taker, with 38 victims to his name.

Sulzberger took three for 68 after a marathon spell that lasted from mid-morning until twenty minutes before tea.

A few lusty blows from Chris Drum in his usual uncomplicated style gave him 20, the third-highest score of the innings. Auckland were all out for 290, leaving CD a victory target of 189.

Excellent fast bowling from Drum and Gareth Shaw devastated CD. Drum removed openers Kelly and Furlong before Shaw cut down the middle order, finishing the day with a career-best four for 13 from ten overs.

The dismissal of Mathew Sinclair for 13 was the crucial blow. Sinclair played back to a delivery that kept cruelly low, hitting the stumps two-thirds of the way up.

Auckland coach Tony Sail was a happy man at the end of the day, though he made it clear that he expected further resistance from CD tomorrow.

He identified Richardson's innings as the key factor in the Auckland revival.

"It was absolutely outstanding. He was all class and deserved a hundred on a difficult wicket," Sail told CricInfo. "Vincent rode his luck a bit but played a strong hand. Other guys chipped in too."

Sail was also pleased with the bowling performance. "The bowlers have stood up and done the job, especially young Gareth Shaw. He has knocked over some of the big names in their side."

Though he agreed that the pitch had eased in some respects, he remained critical of it.

"I think that it got easier in that yesterday it was bouncy poor. Today it was keep-low poor so it didn't hold the same fears, but there are still going to be balls with your name on them. Once guys got in they were able to adjust a bit better," he said.

Defeat for CD will all but eliminate them from Championship contention. Victory for Auckland will leave them at the head of the table with only two rounds to play.