File photo: Colin Munro has made three hundreds in his last four first-class innings © Getty Images
Colin Munro‘s rich form since being dropped from the New Zealand ODI squad continued as his third first-class hundred in as many games took Auckland to an eight-wicket victory over Otago in the Plunket Shield.
After being put in to bat, Otago’s innings was a tale of several players getting starts with no one able to kick on. Five of their top seven batsmen were dismissed between 31 and 50 as the innings was wrapped up for 282. Auckland fast bowler Lockie Ferguson was the most successful, picking up five wickets in the innings and eight in the match.
It was a delicately poised game for the first two innings, with Munro’s century helping Auckland to a 22-run lead, but a disastrous morning session on the third day for Otago had them slipping to 59 for 7. Anaru Kitchen rescued his side from falling for an embarrassingly low total with an explosive 101-ball 108, which pushed Otago to 205 and set Auckland a target of 184 for victory.
Auckland made light work of what could have been a tricky chase with openers Michael Guptill-Bunce and Robert O’Donnell putting on a 61-run partnership at more than five an over. After their departure, Glenn Phillips (59 off 43) and Rob Nicol raced to victory with an unbeaten 96-run partnership in 12.2 overs and finished the match with a day to spare.
Defending champions Auckland were tied at first place with Canterbury, who could pull ahead if they win their on-going bout with Central Districts.
© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
Source: ESPN Crickinfo