Auckland muscled its way into a strong position against Otago in Alexandra yesterday.
The Aces had reached 299 for five at stumps on day one of the Plunket Shield match.
Auckland missed the opening exchanges in the competition due to Covid-19 restrictions.
But it has won all three games and a fourth straight win will strengthen its spot at the top of the competition standings.
Play was delayed by an hour but Auckland made a steady start once the game got under way.
Openers George Worker and Will O’Donnell got the visitor through to 68 without loss at lunch.
Worker was in sizzling form during the one-day competition, piling on 672 runs at an average of 84, including four hundreds.
The experienced left-hander has not enjoyed the same amount of success in the red ball format over the years.
But he looked comfortable against the Otago attack and the pair put on 106 before O’Donnell got an edge off Travis Muller and was brilliantly caught by loan player Ma'ara Ave for 41.
Ave is on loan from Central Districts, as regular Otago keeper Max Chu is isolating.
Muller then struck again. Glenn Phillips, who was batting like he was in a hurry, sliced a drive to Nick Kelly.
Worker carried on. He climbed into some big shots against the bowling of left arm spinner Ben Lockrose.
Jarrod McKay was not spared either. But McKay got a delivery to angle across, nip away and graze the edge.
Worker had to settle for 80.
Otago was fighting back and McKay took another scalp. Mark Chapman (25) swivelled into a hook shot and picked out Michael Rippon at fine leg just before the tea break.
Robbie O’Donnell, who was fresh from a double hundred in his last knock, tucked into Lockrose and McKay. Rippon was proving expensive as well, but nicked out Ben Horne for 24.
Play was evenly poised but Black Caps seamer Kyle Jamieson stroked a series of late boundaries to help tilt the day Auckland’s way.
He will resume undefeated on 29 with Robbie O’Donnell on 73 and closing in on his seventh first-class hundred.
In the other match, Northern Districts was bowled out for 172 in Napier.
Central Districts seamers Doug Bracewell and Ray Toole grabbed three wickets each. But the Stags had slipped to 114 for four in reply at stumps on day one.
AUCKLAND
First innings
G Worker c Ave b Mckay80
W O'Donnell c Ave b Muller 41
G Phillips c Kelly b Muller 10
M Chapman c Rippon b Mckay 25
R O'Donnell not out 73
B Horne c Ave b Rippon 24
K Jamieson not out 29
Extras (6b, 2lb, 5w, 4nb) 17
Total (5 wkts, 88 overs) 299
Fall: 1-106, 2-116, 3-151, 4-174, 5-236
Bowling: J Duffy 20-3-45-0 (2w); T Muller 16-4-56-2 (1nb); J Mckay 15-1-51-2 (2w, 3nb); B Lockrose 25-4-98-0 (1w); M Rippon 12-0-41-1.
