Ball dominated bat to a resounding extent on the second day of the seventh round Shell Trophy contest at McLean Park, Napier. 14 wickets fell for 161 runs, seven of them taken by Northern's Joseph Yovich, who promoted himself up the long list of possible selections for the beleaguered Black Caps.

Yovich's performance was a test of stamina as well as skill. He bowled for the whole of the morning session, with one change of end, and well into the afternoon, finishing with a career-best 31-11-64-7. It took him a few overs to find a consistent line, but when he switched to the Centennial Stand End almost an hour into the day's play he settled into a devastating rhythm.

His figures testify to his accuracy. They do not give an impression of the pace with which he bowled. Yovich drew life from the pitch that was not there for any other bowler. Central collapsed from 41 without loss to 98 for 7, six of the wickets falling to Yovich.

Central skipper Craig Spearman was one of a number of batsmen who found it difficult to cope with the extra bounce generated by Yovich. He was caught in the slips for a duck. Another was Mark Douglas, caught behind attempting a hook a bouncer, though it was clear that he disagreed with the decision. He waited so long before leaving the crease after being given out that it seemed that another bouncer - of the nightclub variety - might be needed to move him along.

Yovich was well supported by his slip fielders - Mark Bailey and Grant Bradburn took two catches each - and the other bowlers. Aldridge took the vital wicket of the in-form Englishman Ben Smith and Simon Doull was relentlessly accurate, allowing the batsmen no respite from the pressure that Yovich was exerting. Doull was unlucky not to take a wicket.

Sulzberger showed that it was possible to play a long innings by digging in for his side's top score of 42. His partnership of 27 for the ninth wicket with Hefford was the second highest of the innings. Even the tenth wicket partnership of Hefford and Anderson showed what could be done with a bit of application, though it was dull stuff, with two scoring shots in one twelve-over spell.

By the close Northern had frittered away the advantage gained from a first innings lead of 65. They found themselves five for three and 22 for four. It could have been worse if there had not been two dropped catches and had some strong appeals for catches and lbws not been rejected.

All three of the Central pace attack took wickets, but again it was Hefford who was the most striking. His figures of 10-8-4-1 speak for themselves.

Central coach Dipak Patel told CricInfo that is Hefford's ability to get the basics right that is behind his recent success.

"There's nothing particularly flash about his bowling, though he has put on a yard of pace this year. He makes demands of batsmen by bowling an aggressive length."

It is worth repeating that Hefford, Thompson and Schwass have played only a handful of first-class games between them.

A glance at the scorecard suggests that the pitch is a minefield. Patel disagrees.

"It is seaming a bit, but nothing out of the ordinary."

He believes that there are more fundamental reasons for 24 wickets falling in the match for less than 400 runs.

"There has been a lack of application and technique on the part of batsmen in both teams. They have to look at themselves and ask how many of them were got out by the bowlers. The answer is very few. It comes down to not being able to apply themselves to four-day cricket."

The team whose batsmen respond to this challenge will be the one that wins this match.

© CricInfo