Otago and New Zealand opener Mark Richardson ensured he stayed in the focus of the New Zealand selectors with a solid 95 for Otago in its Shell Trophy game with Auckland in dunedin today.

It would have been his 12th first-class century, but as was the case in his second Test in Zimbabwe, the 90s proved the troublesome area for him.

His innings was a mixture of aggression and peace but helped ensure Otago would have every chance of obtaining a significant first innings advantage.

At the start of play Auckland added a further 14 runs to their score to be all out for 277. Otago ended the day nine runs short of first innings points on 269/5.

Auckland had engineered a remarkable and meritorious recovery from 71/5 at one stage to the 277 due to 63 from Kyle Mills, 40 from Andre Adams and 65no from Brooke Walker.

The Otago bowling was headed by an outstanding performance by Green Island club debutante Bradley Scott who took 6/48 from 25 overs.

David Sewell 3/67 and Craig Cumming 1/25 were the other successes with the ball for the home team.

Otago began their chase for first innings points at a fast clip with Matthew Horne leading the way until he was out for a useful 41 from 50 balls.

Chris Gaffaney, with a controlled innings for him of 54, and Andrew Hore, a useful 30, also provided substance to the Otago total but it was a mystery that they did not attempt to force the pace particularly over the last 10 overs to secure a first innings lead.

The vagaries of a Dunedin summer have thwarted many a side before and with the temperature dropping late in the afternoon prospects for tomorrow may not be all that good.

Bowling for Auckland Chris Drum took two for 61 while the other three Otago wickets to fall were shared one apiece by three bowlers.

Day Three in any case will tell the story and we can only await until 10.30am, weather permitting.

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