Nothing much has changed.
The Plunket Shield match between Otago and Auckland is still meandering its way towards a draw.
They are not playing Bazball at Molyneux Park, that is for sure.
The Volts have faced 170 overs on their way to 454 for nine in reply to Auckland’s tally of 351 for nine declared.
Auckland’s three-pronged spin attack of Louis Delport, Adithya Ashok and Will Somerville have bowled 119 overs between them.
They will need a long nap when the game eventually ends today.
Otago batter Dale Phillips provided a highlight on day three. He posted his fourth first-class century during a marathon stay at the crease.
The Volts resumed yesterday on 181 for three with not a lot to play for.
Runs were coming at a trickle and wickets were even harder to get.
The match seemed destined for draw but there were still some traps to avoid.
The Phillips brothers had got set the day before. Older brother Glenn had made his way through to 42 from 103 deliveries, while Dale was undefeated on 21 and would have a long day ahead.
Glenn looked on track to post a second century for Otago but got a faint edge on a ball from impressive 20-year-old wrist spinner Ashok.
The brothers had put on 106 for the fourth wicket.
Wickets did not exactly tumble, but Auckland enjoyed a period of relative success.
Jake Gibson spooned a catch to Robbie O’Donnell for eight, and Michael Rippon’s luck is running on empty.
He managed to drag a leg-side delivery from Delport back on to his stumps for 15.
Keeper Max Chu halted the slide with a patient knock of 52 from 115 balls.
But Dale Phillips was a rock at the other end. The 24-year-old right-hander has shaken off a barren run to string a productive period together.
He batted for nearly seven hours for his 129. He eventually made a mistake which cost him his wicket.
Phillips tried to whip a delivery from Somerville, and missed the ball which clattered into the top of off stump.
Otago had almost 400 on the board by then.
- Northern Districts has set Wellington a steep target of 391 for victory at Seddon Park.
The visitors will resume this morning on 17 for one.
In Rangiora, Central Districts scored 282 in reply to Canterbury’s first innings tally of 186.
Canterbury is 103 for one in its second dig.
At Sunnyvale, Otago A completed an 81-run win against Canterbury A in a three-day game. Matt Bacon and Ben Lockrose picked up four wickets apiece in the fourth innings to help secure the win.
AUCKLAND
First innings 351/9dec
OTAGO
First innings
H Rutherford run out (Keene/Horne) 9
T Parkes c Chapman b Ashok 53
D Foxcroft c W O’Donnell b Ashok 51
G Phillips c Horne b Ashok 67
D Phillips b Somerville 129
J Gibson c RO’Donnell b Solia 8
M Rippon b Delport 15
M Chu b Somerville 52
T Muller not out 22
J Duffy c R O’Donnell b Horne 33
M Rae not out 0
Extras (7b, 3lb, 2w, 3nb) 15
Total (9 wkts, 170 overs) 454
Fall: 1-21, 2-103, 3-129, 4-235, 5-258, 6-293, 7-391, 8-398, 9-454.
Bowling: S Solia 8-1-14-1 (1w), D Ferns 15-2-42-0, W Somerville 40-12-84-2, S Keene 14-4-37-0 (1nb), L Delport 39-2-111-1 (1nb), A Ashok 40-4-125-3 (1nb), R O’Donnell 9-2-17-0 (1w), W O’Donnell 4-1-10-0, B Horne 1-0-4-1.
