A tense, rather than exciting, third day saw this State Championship match move into the control of Northern Districts, but a quickfire sixth wicket partnership between Kyle Mills and Tama Canning left Auckland with some hope.

Auckland finished the day on 189/6, a lead of 129. Though the start was delayed by an hour, the lost time was made up at the end of the day to give us our first full day's cricket of the match.

Grant Bradburn and Joseph Yovich shared the honours for ND.

Bradburn has had a wretched season so far, but any doubts about his continued place in the ND side were firmly put aside today.

Resuming this morning, he made 53, putting on 90 for the seventh wicket with Yovich. It was a typical Bradburn innings, including seven fours and plenty of nudging and pushing to keep the score ticking over. It was his thirtieth half century and like many of the other 29, it came when his team needed it most.

ND coach Bruce Blair told CricInfo that his belief in Bradburn's ability was not affected by the player's recent lack of form and dismissed the suggestion that Bradburn's place in the team was under threat before today.

"It was just a question of time. He's a very experienced cricketer who knows what he has to do. He looked really determined today. His opportunities have been very limited this season. Our confidence in Bradburn, and Mark Bailey, has never wavered. They are both too good as cricketers to miss out for long."

Yovich played a supporting role with the bat, going on to the attack only after his partner's dismissal. He finished with 36 from 167 deliveries and hit four fours.

When ND took the field the roles were reversed. Yovich was the strike bowler, while Bradburn tied up the other end.

The off spinner bowled a miserly spell of 10 overs for 10 runs. His first wicket of the season continued to prove elusive, but the pressure he exerted forced risks to be taken at the other end.

Yovich finished the day with figures of 18-1-60-4, a performance that pleased his coach.

"We ask Joey to do the difficult jobs for us, to keep bowling into the wind. But he is capable of producing a wicket ball at any time."

Blair believes that Yovich has the potential to be an international bowler.

"He has a fantastic attitude and works hard at his game."

Until Mills and Canning came together Auckland found it difficult to build partnerships, except for 54 for the second wicket between Aaron Barnes and Tim McIntosh.

McIntosh held the early part of the innings together. The left-handed opener made 37 from 133 balls including two fours, one edged. He gave a hard chance in the slips, survived several noisy lbw appeals and rarely looked secure, but at least he showed the stickability that Auckland needed.

When McIntosh was dismissed it seemed like the beginning of the end for Auckland. Mills and Canning had other ideas. They put on 52 in 11 overs in a counterattack that provided the day's most entertaining batting.

They both rode their luck, Mills edging Ian Butler over the slips to the boundary twice in an over. Canning perished for 34, but Mills remains, having hit seven fours in his 33.

Another hour of crash bang from him in the morning could change the course of the game.

Blair felt ND would chase anything under 200 with great confidence. More than that might allow the spin attack of Brooke Walker and Mark Haslam to pose problems.

"The pitch has got a little slower with some variation of bounce, but nothing alarming."

Auckland's prospects will not be enhanced by the probable absence of Nick Horsley, who did not bat today and may not do so tomorrow. He was concussed after being hit on the head by a Butler delivery in the first innings. Under Accident Compensation Commission rules he must stand down for 72 hours or risk invalidating any possible claim.

An ND victory remains the most likely result, but that depends on the home side being able to take the remaining wickets quickly tomorrow morning. Let us hope that the rain relents as it did today, as a fascinating final day is in prospect.

© CricInfo