Auckland always posed a big challenge.
Two days into Otago’s Plunket Shield fixture, that challenge looks even bigger.
The Volts were 59 for four at the stumps on day two of their Plunket Shield match at the Eden Park Outer Oval yesterday.
That came after Auckland piled on the runs over the first two days, declaring late yesterday at 467 for six.
Martin Guptill and Glenn Phillips both scored centuries, before the rest of the line-up dug in to take the game away from Otago.
Otago had won the toss and elected to bowl after a rain-delayed start.
However, it soon found itself on the back foot.
Guptill and Jeet Raval put on an opening stand of 80, before Matt Bacon finally broke through. He came around the wicket to the left-handed Raval, sneaking one between bat and pad to dismiss the former international for 24.
That brought Phillips to the crease and Auckland reasserted its dominance.
He and Guptill remained unbeaten at stumps.
Guptill managed 109 in that time, Auckland ending the day at 176 for one.
Day two started better for the Volts.
Guptill added just one to his overnight total as Jacob Duffy found a way through his defence to bowl the opener.
Again, Otago was unable to follow that with another wicket.
Mark Chapman joined Phillips and the two built a third big partnership. They put on 116 to leave Auckland at 295 when Nathan Smith found the outside edge of Philips’ bat to dismiss the No3 for 102.
This time a second wicket did follow. Camden Hawkins caught Chapman pulling for 52, off the bowling of Duffy.
Dean Foxcroft caught and bowled Sean Solia not long after to have Auckland at 331 for five.
But 67 from Ben Horne and an unbeaten 61 from Robert O’Donnell helped Auckland to 429 for six when it declared.
Otago’s innings could not have started in a more contrasting way.
Two wickets in the space of two overs left it struggling at 29 for two. First Hawkins was caught behind down the leg side off the bowling of Lockie Ferguson for six.
Anaru Kitchen followed for 15, caught by Ben Lister trying to pull Matt McEwan.
That became 52 for three when Neil Broom was bowled for six by Louis Delport.
Dean Foxcroft followed five runs later when he edged one to Horne as Delport took his second wicket.
That left Matt Bacon and Nick Kelly at the crease as Otago finished the day at 59 for four.
