Canterbury and Northern Districts have scored decisive victories in a run-heavy Round 2 of the four-day Plunket Shield.
Stand-in captain Rhys Mariu scored a double-century in Canterbury's 10-wicket win over Central Districts at Nelson's Saxton Oval, while Wellington's Nick Kelly racked up centuries in each innings in a drawn match with Otago at Dunedin's University Oval.
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Opener Mariu, leading the side in the absence of Tom Latham, scored 240 from 330 balls as Canterbury reached 492-7 declared in their first innings, in reply to Central Districts' 202.
In his more than eight hours at the crease, Mariu struck 25 fours and three sixes, and shared a 258-run partnership with Matt Boyle, who blazed 110 from 150, including 10 fours and a six, for the third wicket.
Cameron Paul took his maiden first-class five-wicket bag, with 5-34 from 14 overs in Central's first innings, then Black Cap Will O'Rourke grabbed 4-38 from 18 and Michael Rippon 3-31 from 17 in the second innings.
Central reached 303 in their second dig, with opener Curtis Heaphy top-scoring with 82, leaving Canterbury just 14 runs for victory, which they reached in under three overs.
Kelly became the first to score centuries in each inning in the Plunket Shield since 2021, plundering his way to 161, including 21 fours, in the first innings and 101 not out, in the second innings against his former team.
Boosted by Kelly and Logan van Beek (68), who combined for 135 runs for the sixth wicket, the Firebirds reached 357. Otago replied with 303-8 declared, with Dale Phillips doing the bulk of the scoring, reaching 135 from 250.
After two long innings and Wellington working to increase their lead, a result became increasingly unlikely. Once Kelly reached his second ton, a draw was conceded and the captains shook hands.
Black Caps batsman Jeet Raval became the fifth different player to reach triple-figures in the round in Northern Districts' 117-run win over Auckland at Hamilton's Seddon Park.
But Scott Kuggeleijn was the standout for ND, taking 5-43 from 14 in Auckland's first innings of 150, then producing 4-44 from 16 to take down the Aces for 191. Brett Hampton also took six wickets in the match for the competition leaders.
ND had a 118-run lead after the first innings, before Raval anchored their second innings of 252-6 declared, with 120 not out from 144, including 12 fours and three sixes, setting Auckland a target of 371.
With two outright wins, Northern have amassed 38 of a possible 40 points, leading Canterbury by 10 points. Central Districts (21) and Auckland (20) fill out the top-four, while Wellington and Otago remain winless.