A timely maiden first-class century from Craig Cachopa enabled Central Districts to chase down a sizeable fourth innings target to beat Plunket Shield rivals Auckland by six wickets.
In his 20th match at this level Cachopa scored a priceless 108 as the Stags reached 341 for four to pocket maximum points at McLean Park in Napier.
He occupied the crease for close to five hours, hitting 13 fours as his colleagues batted around him after the early loss of opener Ben Smith for four.
Skipper Jamie How contributed 69 to a second wicket partnership of 82 then Mathew Sinclair kept things moving with 46 before Cachopa and Kieran Noema-Barnett put on 108 for the eighth wicket.
They were parted only when Cachopa edged behind off medium pacer Colin Munro, but Noema-Barnett was up to the challenge, finishing unbeaten on 75 with 11 fours in 162 minutes.
With him at the finish was debutant William Young, the New Zealand under-19 captain, who made 32 not out off as many balls with four fours and one six.
Auckland had started the last day on 208 for eight in the second innings and added another 40 before declaring after Bruce Martin was bowled by seamer Kyle Jarvis for 24.
That gave the Zimbabwe bowler his first five-wicket bag for the Stags as he ended with figures of five for 80 off 15 overs.
Day three
Wily spin bowler Bruce Martin was in his element as Auckland made quick work of Central Districts on the third day of their Plunket Shield match in Napier.
The 31-year-old left-armer bagged the excellent figures of six for 38 off 15.4 overs as the Stags were dismissed for just 143 in their first innings in response to the Aces’ 234 at McLean Park.
The outcome remains in the balance with a day remaining although Auckland will fancy their chances after reaching 208 for eight in their second innings by stumps, leading overall by 299 runs.
Martin shot through the Stags line-up after the hosts resumed this morning on 23 for one after only a handful of overs were possible on the second day due to inclement weather.
Only veteran Mathew Sinclair got going, scoring 62 in close to three hours before Martin pierced his defences after the former international had stroked nine boundaries off 122 balls.
Taranaki batsman William Young managed 22 on debut in an hour before Martin took care of him also by having the 19-year-old snapped up by Neal Parlane.
It was the 17th time in 102 first-class appearances that Martin snared a bag of five or more wickets in an innings.
Central Districts, who were without Kruger van Wyk today because the wicketkeeper was sidelined with a stomach bug, lost their last four wickets in 12 balls for the princely sum of two runs.
The home side again inflicted early blows when Auckland batted again, the visitors being reduced to 89 for five after Zimbabwe seamer Kyle Jarvis removed the first three batsmen, of whom only Brad Cachopa made a start in making 33.
Gareth Hopkins and Colin Munro put on 62 for the sixth wicket before Hopkins was dismissed for 32 by Roald Badenhorst, then Munro was removed for a 43-minute 54 containing 12 boundaries when Daniel Wightman had him caught by Kieran Noema-Barnett.
Daryl Tuffey annoyed the hosts by making 37 before being dismissed by Jarvis, who completed the day with figures of four for 64 off 12 overs.
Day two
The good news was that some action was possible on the second day of the Plunket Shield match between Central Districts and Auckland in Napier.
The bad news was that it was restricted to just 12.4 overs before rain forced a very early close.
During that time the Stags reached 23 for one responding to the Aces’ first innings of 234 at McLean Park.
They lost opener Ben Smith, who was bowled for a five-ball duck by Chris Martin, leaving Mathew Sinclair, on 14, and Carl Cachopa, on seven, to return to the middle when the match resumes tomorrow.
Day one
Auckland captain Gareth Hopkins battled valiantly with a fighting century but he could not prevent Central Districts from dominating the opening day of their Plunket Shield match in Napier.
Hopkins contributed an outstanding 130, his 13th first-class century, to the Aces’ first innings of 234 at McLean Park after the Stags bowlers pounced early and refused the release the pressure valve.
Bad light intervened late in the day, delaying the start of the Stags’ response until tomorrow morning.
The home team’s seam bowlers held the upperhand as soon as Zimbabwe import Kyle Jarvis removed openers Tim McIntosh for three and Jeet Raval for seven.
The outlook never brightened for Auckland as Brad Cachopa, Neal Parlane, Anaru Kitchen and Colin Munro all came and went cheaply to see the visitors teetering at 60 for six.
It was only when Hopkins was offered assistance from Mitchell McClenaghan that Auckland stemmed the bleeding, these two putting on an invaluable stand of 101 for the eighth wicket to lend their team respectability.
Hopkins raised three figures immediately before McClenaghan fell for 34, scored in a tick over two hours, when part-time spinner Jamie How accepted a return catch.
By the time Hopkins departed, edging behind off Roald Badenhorst, he had struck 18 boundaries in 254 minutes of concentrated defiance.
All of the Stags seamers enjoyed the conditions, with allrounder Kieran Noema-Barnett ending with three for 35 off 16 overs, Jarvis three for 41 off 21 and Badenhorst three for 55.
