Rain again limits Aces chances
Wednesday, 21 March 2012
Michael Bates was the best of the Aces bowlers with 3/60
It was another day of frustration for the Aces as first Daniel Flynn and then the weather stymied their chances of moving the game forward towards an outright result.
The doughty left-hander warmed up for his recall to the test ranks by scoring 123 not out in Northern Districts’ first innings of 351 for eight on the third play of their Plunket Shield match against Auckland.
Auckland responded by reaching 39 for one by stumps at home at Colin Maiden Park after rain forced the teams from the field just before 5pm then bad light kept them there.
Having already lost the entire second day to adverse weather, more interruptions were the last thing Auckland wanted after entering the game seeking a win to leap frog the Knights atop the standings with one round remaining.
A result now looks most unlikely unless the Aces, who will resume tomorrow with Jeet Raval on 10 and Neal Parlane on six, declare well behind in the hope they are set a gettable target in the last innings.
Earlier, after resuming on 68 with the competition-leading Knights on 266 for six, Flynn reeled off his third shield century of the season, striking 11 fours and five sixes as he upped the tempo .
Flynn batted for just short of four hours to totally dominate a scorecard which featured 54 from opener Brad Wilson before the scheduled second day was lost to heavy rain.
His overnight batting partner Graeme Aldridge stuck around for close to an hour as Flynn went on the attack against a bowling line up best served by Michael Bates, who finished with three for 60 off 22 overs.
Fellow fast bowler Mitchell McClenaghan took two for 88 while left-arm spinner Bruce Martin copped some punishment before finishing with three for 111 off 28 overs.
Full scorecard