Otago fast bowler James McMillan enjoyed success with three early wickets on the opening day of the Plunket Shield match against Northern Districts in Hamilton yesterday.
But rain and some stout defence from Joseph Yovich stymied Otago's progress, with Northern 143 for four when play was called off for the day.
McMillan picked up two wickets in his third over. Opener Brad Wilson was bowled for five and the experienced James Marshall went in similar fashion three balls later, for a duck.
When Hamish Marshall was caught from the bowling of Sam Wells, Northern had slumped to 34 for three.
Black Caps all-rounder Daniel Vettori counterattacked with an enterprising 33 from 29 deliveries but perished when he got an edge through to the keeper, Derek de Boorder.
At lunch, the home side was 108 for four. McMillan had bowled superbly with three for 40 and six maidens in his first 11 overs.
Veteran all-rounder Yovich and former Black Cap Daniel Flynn returned the fight to Otago, adding 50 runs from 82 balls. Yovich brought up his 25th first-class half century from a patient 128 balls.
There was time for 11 overs after lunch before rain interrupted with Yovich undefeated on 52 and Flynn on 31.
Auckland's Gareth Hopkins found time to stroke his 13th first-class century yesterday against Central Districts on day one of the game at McLean Park, Napier.
Central Districts won the toss against the third-placed Aucklanders and sent them in to bat on a wicket that usually produces plenty of runs.
Central's seamers ripped through the Auckland top order and had the visiting side struggling at 95 for seven.
Hopkins, though, found a willing running mate in former CD player Mitchell McClenaghan and the pair added 101 for the eighth wicket before McClenaghan was dismissed for a valuable 34.
Hopkins, who belted 18 fours in his 254-minute, 130-run vigil, was the last man to go as the scoreboard read 234 and his knock gave his side respectability to what could have been a woeful first-innings total.
Central Districts did not take the crease in their first innings as bad light cut the day's play short.
Bad light was a theme that carried down the North Island as Canterbury finished its innings at 283 for five for the day, with 92.4 overs bowled against Wellington at the Basin Reserve.
