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Peter Ingram - Source: Photosport -
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Central Districts are in the box seat with one day left in their Plunket Shield four-day cricket match against Wellington at Napier while Canterbury are also poised for a win over Otago.
At stumps on the third day on Sunday, Central Districts were 172 for two in their second innings, needing another 54 runs for the outright win after conceding first innings points to Wellington.
Wellington squandered their opportunity to break a run of four heavy defeats in the competition when their fragile batting was once again exposed.
They posted a paltry 207 in their second innings as their batsmen, with the exception of Neil Parlane, struggled to establish a defendable total.
Parlane who started the day on 39, went on to share a partnership worth 55 with Luke Woodcock before the all rounder's dismissal for 29 sparked a collapse with Wellington losing their remaining six wickets for 126 runs.
Parlane was dismissed for 90, clean bowled by Doug Bracewell after a stay lasting eight hours and 15 minutes.
Wellington skipper Matthew Bell, nursing an injured finger on his right hand, came in at No 10 and lasted 42 minutes during which he was able to eke out 15 runs from the 26 balls faced.
Teenagers Bracewell and Adam Milne were once again Wellington's chief tormentors.
Bracewell took four for 59 on Sunday, giving him a nine wickets for 106 in the match while Milne's figures today were three for 41 to give him seven for 90.
Central's Peter Ingram celebrated his Black Caps Test callup to play Australia with a 59 before giving Woodcock a return catch off his own bowling.
Skipper Jamie How was not far behind with a breezy 58 off 47 balls.
Brad Patton, on 28 and Tim Weston, 15, resume their innings on Monday. The full scoreboard from day three is here .
Canterbury tighten the screws
In the other match, Canterbury tightened the screws on Otago on the third day of their Plunket Shield match in Queenstown on Sunday, setting them 435 to secure an unlikely win on Monday.
Resuming on 178 for six on Sunday morning in reply to Canterbury's first innings 315, Otago struggled through another 11 overs before they were all out for 221 with only wicketkeeper Derek de Boorder's 55 providing any resistance.
Chris Martin and Hamish Bennett vied for top Canterbury bowling honours, each picking up three apiece while Brandon Hiini chipped in with 2-42.
In contrast, Canterbury's batsmen looked for the most comfortable, with only Peter Fulton's four-ball duck giving any cause for concern.
Former Black Caps opener Michael Papps provided the backbone of the innings, combining with Johann Myburgh to put on 154 runs for the third wicket after Canterbury faltered briefly at 84 for two.
While Myburgh was trapped in front by Warren McSkimming for 90, Papps went on to secure his 18th first-class century before also falling leg before wicket to Anthony Bullick on 122.
Dean Brownlie put on a quickfire 25 from 28 balls, and Canterbury declared at 340 for five on the loss of his wicket to leave Otago openers Craig Cumming and Leighton Morgan a nervous five overs to survive before stumps were drawn.
The pair got through to leave Otago 19 without loss, and facing a long day at the crease on Monday to save the match. The full scoreboard from day three is here .
