Auckland, the humble, pointless cellar-dwellers of the Shell Trophy competition, might have been permitted to walk tall and proudly after completely dominating the second day of their four-day match against Northern Districts at the Eden Park Outer Oval today.

After what must have been one of their most splendid days in recent cricketing history, the Aucklanders moved their first innings from the 238 for two foothills overnight to the Everest of 547 for eight wickets declared.

They then swept aside the top of the ND first innings, taking wickets at 4, 4 6 and 24, and leaving Northern staggering at 36 for four wickets at stumps.

ND thus faced a follow-on target of 398, and this had only been reduced to 362 by the end of play today.

Auckland flourished on one of their few rain-free days in this erratic summer, and they might well pray for more sunshine over the next two days if they are to press on for the Trophy six-point outright win that will get them into the Trophy race.

The pitch still gives the faster bowlers some assistance, and a little slow turn for the spinners, so ND will have the comfort that the playing conditions should not deteriorate sharply.

Auckland had a struggle at the start, losing one sheet-anchor batsman John Aiken at 239, and Dion Nash at 254.

But from that point, just after 11 am until the gloaming at 7.35 pm, Auckland simply dominated everything.

Lou Vincent, such a dashing newcomer two years ago, but not making the appropriate improvement in the interim, played a dazzling hand, scattering boundaries round the ground with searing cover-drives, vicious hooks and impish cuts.

While Richard King soldiered soberly along Vincent put the foot on the Auckland accelerator, and there it stayed all day. Vincent was gone for 49 from 52 balls, 10 fours and a six. King picked up speed until he was out just after lunch at 357 for six.

Then Tama Canning and Andre Adams turned the race into a rout, scoring 50 together in 26 minutes by the simple process of hitting seven fours and three sixes - 46 in total.

Adams became quite dynamic, sending one of his four sixes over the grandstand at the southern end of the ground. Gallant Daryl Tuffey, who battled nobly and deserved his five-wicket haul, finished off Adams at 442 for seven, and when Canning went at 456 for eight the weary ND bowlers might have expected an Auckland declaration.

But the Auckland captain Blair Pocock drove a hard bargain and when Chris Drum and Kyle Mills developed a fluent partnership they were allowed to swagger onward, Drum reaching a career-best 60 not out, Mills 34 and together they added another 91 to the Auckland mountain.

Auckland moved past three milestones - their highest innings totals against ND (424 for four declared) Wellington (522) and Central Districts (526) leaving only Otago (579) and Canterbury (693) in the record books.

Then came Auckland's withering assault in the 21 overs which Pocock's deliberate declaration allowed, and leaving Auckland two days planning for a win, and ND two days in which to hold out for a draw.

© CricInfo