Wellington took an early advantage in the 2007/08 National Under-17 Tournament with a 29-run win over Canterbury at Napier’s Nelson Park.
Wellington recovered from a meager first innings total of 84 and an 80-run first innings deficit.
A better attempt of their second turn at the crease, a century opening stand between Matthew Taylor and Nick Ward guiding them to 309 for eight, Tim Johnson taking five for 66.
A declaration set Canterbury 229 runs to win the game, but they were all out for 200, Elliot Borran taking five wickets as Canterbury from 127 for three.
Elsewhere at Nelson Park, Auckland took first innings points from their draw with Otago, and hosts Central Districts did likewise against Northern Districts.
Auckland recovered from a poor start in their first innings, moving from 59 for five to 356. Rhys Pemberton scored 104 from only 71 deliveries.
Otago struggled throughout their innings losing wickets at regular intervals and never threatening to make the Auckland total. Jayden Morris claimed five for 21.
Auckland in the quest for quick runs to set Otago a target scored 102 of 21.5 overs leaving Otago 298 runs to score an unlikely victory
Otago managed to avoid an outright defeat and never looked like making the 298 set by Auckland.
They collapsed to 52 for five, but a 78-run, sixth-wicket partnership between Tom Rodden and Tom Rutherford helped Otago to a draw.
Having elected to bowl first, CD restricted ND to 41 for four before a partnership of 135 between Zac Scott and Curtis Cherrington, leading ND to a charge to 260.
A fight-back from 97 for six, after a seventh-wicket stand of 78 between Dane Cleaver and Ben Wheeler and late flurry from Josh Poole (59), earned the bonus points with a total of 287.
ND then batted through to stumps, making 61 for one.
Auckland v Otago
Auckland: 356 (R Pemberton 104, J Neesham 100, D Goodard 50, K Jadeja 32no, J Horrell 3-45, A Simpson 3-84) and 102/2 wickets (J Rosenburg 36, C Cachopa 25no, A Simpson 1-31) drew with Otago: 160 (A Simpson 45 no, K Daniel 30, J Morris 5-21, K Jadeja 2-18) and 140/6 (T Rodden 66 no, C McMeekin 22, B Kingham 3-35) – 1st innings points to Auckland
Central Districts v Northern Districts
Central Districts: 287 (T Landrigan 43, D Cleaver 78, J Poole 59, P West 3-42, A McLean 3-73) and 61/1 at close of play (B Sorrenson 25no, J Hickey 31no, D Van Derventer 1-7) drew with Northern Districts: 260 (Z Scott 118 no, C Cherrington 60, B Small 3-34, B Wheeler 2-36, B Jackett 2-47) - 1st Innings points to Central Districts
Canterbury v Wellington
Wellington 84 (N Ward 50 no, M McEwan 3-20, J Roberts 3-31) and 309/8 (N Ward 129, M Taylor 37, T Johnston 5-66, M Henry 2-63) defeated Canterbury: 164 (M McEwan 43no, L Van Beek 26,T Johnston 22, K Hitchman 4-35) and 200 (T Latham 114, J Winchester 33, E Borran 5-24, H Wright 2-64) by 29 runs.
