Sixteen wickets fell as bowlers enjoyed rare dominance on the Lincoln Green pitch today as Auckland became the latest side to make the trek to Christchurch for their pre-season preparation.

While their bowlers put the pressure on the New Zealand Academy, almost from the outset, the prospect of spin becoming a factor on the last day means that the home team is still in with every chance.

The Academy was all out for 168 and Auckland in reply were 122 for six wickets.

Academy captain Jamie How was the first of seven leg before wicket decisions on the day when trapped by Kyle Mills in the 10th over with the Academy on 21. Tama Canning struck next when Nick Horsley was also adjudged leg before wicket with the score on 46.

Andre Adams managed to put Shanan Stewart through his paces with a fiery spell but Stewart got his own back against Mark Haslam by hitting two straight boundaries in one over.

Auckland captain, and leg-spinner, Brooke Walker removed Stewart, caught behind, but only after it was necessary for umpires Dave Quested and Gary Baxter to have a discussion on the matter.

It proved a busy day for the umpires when they had another natter at square leg over an appear for a bat-pad catch from Haslam's bowling. Luke Woodcock was a little luckier than Stewart and survived, momentarily.

In his next over, Haslam did get Woodcock, who worked hard for his 25 but missed the ball when advancing on Haslam only to be bowled.

Coming 10 minutes before the lunch break it was unfortunate for the Academy as they lost Brendon McCullum in the same over for a duck when he played across the line and was given out leg before. At 75 for five wickets things were looking grim for the home team.

Worse was to follow before lunch when Jonathan McNamee hit a full toss from Walker to midwicket and the shaky total continued to slide to 83/6.

At lunch the score was 89/6 off 34 overs.

Nathan McCullum was unable to keep out of the way of a Chris Drum bouncer and gloved a chance which was taken behind the wicket just after the resumption.

Warren McSkimming returned to the fray for the Academy after a lengthy break for injury, but marked his return by becoming the fourth leg before victim for the innings, this time at Haslam's hand.

James Franklin and Reece Young showed some steel in their ninth wicket stand worth 50 runs in 56 minutes. Young hit out strongly with some good hook shots. Franklin departed however when bowled by Mills after scoring 20 runs.

Young was bowled by Walker on 38 after two hours batting.

The Auckland spinners varied their pace intelligently and reaped the greatest rewards for their endeavours.

Academy paceman Wade Cornelius continued on from where he left off against the Australian Academy and picked up the wicket of international batsman Matt Horne. He sparred at a well-directed delivery to be caught at second slip by the ever-vigilant Brendon McCullum, for a 15-ball duck.

Franklin, struggling to get to the bowling crease because of the gusty nor'wester which made conditions warmer than they had been the whole time the Australians were in town, deceived Tim McIntosh with the line and he won an appeal for another lbw to leave Auckland on 21 for two wickets.

Barnacle Richard Pudney (6 off 43 balls) clung tenaciously until the drinks break when the score was 46/2 off 18 overs. He was immediately dismissed after the break for no additional runs off 47 balls.

Within the space of eight runs the Auckland middle order lost three wickets to the combined efforts of Woodcock and Franklin.

Woodcock used the wind to assist his flight as he claimed three wickets and Franklin relished a spell downwind to remove the dangerous Llorne Howell.

The total was 77/6 when Adams joined Mills and they set about restoring the balance of the game. Adams was severe on Cornelius in his ninth over, taking 17 runs to strong pull shots that evaded the deep-set fielders.

With Auckland trailing by 46 runs with four first innings wickets in hand the game is evenly poised.

© CricInfo