Wellington still not in the clear against ND

Last season Wellington recorded their lowest score of 78 against Northern Districts at WestpacTrust Park, Hamilton. They are not yet sure of passing that dubious landmark in this year's corresponding fixture, having finished day two at 76/8, 151 short of ND's first-innings 227.

It is a match full of notable statistical achievements, the most striking of which is that ND's Michael Parlane scored 146, while the second-highest individual total has been 22. That was by Wellington pace bowler Andrew Penn, who registered career-best bowling figures of seven for 71.

The pitch has been the main talking point. It began the day retaining the bright green colour of yesterday, turning a more conventional brown as the day went on. It remained challenging for the batsmen of both teams - Parlane gloriously excepted - all day, but how many demons does it really contain?

Few were apparent in the hour or so after play began two hours late following heavy overnight rain. The only wicket to fall in that time was that of Hamish Marshall, run out for eight when James Franklin deflected a ball onto the stumps at the bowler's end.

Things changed as soon as Penn joined the attack after the drinks break. He struck twice in two overs. First, Grant Bradburn (15) was caught at third slip by Grant Donaldson a ball after edging just wide of the same, diving, fielder.

Robbie Hart was Penn's second victim, lbw for a duck. It should have been three wickets in two overs, but David Sales dropped Joseph Yovich at second slip before the left-hander had scored.

Yovich was out off the last ball before lunch, edging a lifter from Penn into the gloves of wicket-keeper Glynn Howell for eight.

When Simon Doull - as intent on aggression in the four-day version of the game as in the one-day - holed out to his second ball for a duck, ND were 167/8.

Parlane had reached his hundred before the interval. It was his seventh first-class century, made on his first appearance of the season. He faced 200 balls and hit 15 fours. He displayed the familiar Parlane power and timing, but added exemplary shot selection.

He added six more fours and a six, straight back against the sightscreen off Brooke Walker, while putting on 60 for the ninth wicket with Bruce Martin.

They were helped by the absence of Penn from the attack for most of their partnership. It was a different game when he and Franklin were resting.

Penn's returned to wrap up the ND innings, having Parlane and Graeme Aldridge caught behind off successive deliveries.

The Wellington reply fell into disarray almost as soon as it had begun. At tea they were 14 for two, having lost skipper Matthew Bell lbw to Yovich for five and Selwyn Blackmore caught by Martin at short leg of Aldridge for the first of four Wellington ducks.

After the interval there was a procession of batsmen as the visitors subsided to 29/6.

Richard Jones went to a fine diving catch by James Marshall at third slip off Yovich. Jones had scored 17 of the 21 that Wellington had on the board when he was out.

Sales was caught at second slip by Scott Styris off Yovich. The ball was a beauty that straightened and squared Sales up.

Matthew Walker was bowled first ball. He pushed tentatively down the wrong line.

Franklin survived the hat-trick ball, only for Aldridge to surprise Donaldson with another lifter on off stump. It flew off the top edge to be well taken by Matthew Hart in the gully.

Penn, who might have hoped to have had his feet up for the rest of the day, restored a fig leaf of modesty to the Wellington performance with 22 in a partnership of 40 for the seventh wicket.

Significantly, the partnership prospered when the strike bowlers were rested. Eleven of the 15 wickets to fall today went to Penn or Yovich, two bowlers of good pace who were capable of making the ball lift off just short of a good length. Aldridge, who maintained a brisk pace and nagging line and length, claimed two.

But Walker, Mark Gillespie, Doull and Styris have bowled 46 overs between them in the match for one wicket, that off a leg-side delivery from Doull that Penn chased and glanced to the wicket-keeper.

So it is quality fast bowling making use of bounce and pace more than lateral movement, that is responsible for the sorry time experienced by the batsmen of both teams, not a poor quality pitch. If there were more surfaces like this in New Zealand, batsmen would be better equipped to deal with the challenges that they present.

Yovich finished the day by dismissing Franklin, caught by Bradburn at first slip for a dogged 16. He may have been overtaken by Daryl Tuffey, and now Ian Butler, in the fast-bowling pecking order, but Yovich is capable of sustained spells of intelligent and genuinely quick bowling, as he demonstrated again today. He has five for 31.

Wellington resume tomorrow needing two to avoid the follow-on with two wickets remaining. ND should win the game from here, whether or not those two runs are scored.