Only 47 overs were bowled at WestpacTrust Park in Hamilton on day one of the State Championship match between Northern Districts and Auckland, but that was enough for ND to establish firm control.

Auckland finished the day on 110/7. Only Nick Horsley, with a determined 60, provided effective resistance.

The ND pace quartet have all contributed, with the wicketless Ian Butler the pick of the attack.

Reece Young, promoted from No 9 to opener, was first out. He was bowled by Joseph Yovich for one, failing to pick up the line of a ball that went through a sizeable gap between bat and pad.

Left-hander Tim McIntosh did most of the early scoring, though the rate stayed at around two an over for the first hour.

McIntosh was dropped at second slip by Mark Bailey off Scott Styris, but it was not an expensive miss. The batsman had added only one more when he was caught behind off Styris for 15 with the score on 37.

Aaron Barnes was out first ball. Styris got unexpected lift, finding the shoulder of the bat to be caught by James Marshall above his head at third slip.

Being 37/3 on a hat-trick delivery was not the situation that Llorne Howell would have chosen for his first innings of the season. He defended the hat-trick ball successfully but found scoring difficult. He contributed only five to a fourth-wicket partnership of 52 with Horsley.

Horsley played the innings of the day, despite being troubled by the pace of Butler, who struck him on the helmet early on. Horsley's response was to cut the next delivery for four, typical of the counter-aggression that was the hallmark of his innings.

The second half-century of Horsley's career - the first came against the Bangladeshis two weeks ago - included eight fours. He celebrated with a hooked six off Yovich to the longest boundary on the ground.

Horsley's innings ended in characteristically aggressive fashion soon after tea. A steepling top edge from an attempted hook off Yovich was caught by Robbie Hart. Horsley scored 60 from 101 balls, hitting eight fours and a six.

Styris took two of the first three wickets to fall. Styris is bowling at the peak of form and confidence. His bowling was zippy, if not quick and he exploited what little assistance the pitch offered. He bowled one spell, finishing with 7-1-22-1.

Butler's figures (12-3-30-0) do not reflect the problems that he caused the Auckland batsmen. Several uncontrolled shots fell clear of fielders. He was the quickest of the ND bowlers and maintained a threatening line. It was easy to see how Butler took nine wickets at under 20 in his first two ND appearances this season.

Yovich (16-5-38-4) improved as the day went on. He added accuracy to the pace that he had from the start. He took two of the three wickets that fell in the last session of the day, one of 45 minutes between showers. Both Howell and Brooke Walker edged balls that left them to Hart, who has taken four catches so far, leaving him three short of Bryan Young's ND career record.

Daryl Tuffey removed Kyle Mills with the first ball of his last spell of the day. Until that point he had bowled without fire and his figures (12-6-19-1) flatter him. With Simon Doull and Graeme Aldridge both pushing hard for places Tuffey will have to maintain the improvement displayed in his last short spell if he is to avoid a rapid descent from Test to club cricket.

Auckland did not play like the Championship leaders that they are. The pitch rewards bowlers who combine pace and accuracy, but is essentially trustworthy.

However, the real heroes of the day were Doug Strachan and his groundstaff. They worked heroically to get play underway at all and have produced a good pitch despite the awful weather and the demands of staging a Test last week.

They sustained serial drenchings, but did not flinch from their task. Auckland must show similar determination tomorrow.

© CricInfo