Central Districts found themselves in an imposing position when bad light, winning out over floodlights, brought an early end to the second day of their State Championship match against Wellington at McLean Park today.

There were only 2.3 overs still to be bowled when stumps were drawn shortly after 5.30pm, when the floodlights were no longer able to alleviate the gloom of an early-autumn twilight.

Central were then 114/3 in their second innings and, with the added cushion of a 38-run first innings lead, led Wellington by 142 runs with seven second innings wickets standing and two days to play.

They had achieved that lead and two valuable first innings points when they dismissed Wellington for 180, shortly before tea, in reply to their own 218. Their lead might have been larger but Mark Jefferson, with a defiant half century, had managed to build his own small edifice from the rubble of Wellington's innings.

Ben Smith was 30 not out when stumps were drawn and batting with some of his familiar poise and command. This has been a mixed season for Smith, given early impetus by a double century against Canterbury but having since lost much of that momentum.

Glen Sulzberger was with Smith at stumps, six not out, and batting capably.

Wellington had managed to balance the match a little when they dismissed Mathew Sinclair for 41 five overs before stumps were drawn. Andrew Penn, with the second ball of his 12th over, caused Sinclair to shape a shot to leg and the ball eluded him, seaming slightly and knocking back leg stump.

Sinclair had been the personification of Wellington's weakened position when he added 68 runs in 20 overs with Smith for Central's third wicket. He had faced 68 balls and his innings incorporated six fours and a fine hooked six from the third ball of Mark Gillespie's first over.

Central seemed likely to hold all the cards in the match when they reduced Wellington to 78/6 this morning after they had resumed at 21/2. Wellington's third wicket, that of Richard Jones, fell when they were only 30 and eight overs after the resumption. They recovered to 78/4 as Leighton Morgan, on debut, and Grant Donaldson added 48 runs for the fourth wicket.

But 78 became an ill-omened number for Wellington and they lost three wickets at that score, finding their innings suddenly and demonstrably in ruins.

Morgan was out for 27, a bold knock from a young man batting for the first time in a first-class match, and Donaldson soon after for 22. Chris Nevin followed without scoring, bowled by Lance Hamilton and after suffering an injury - a badly-bruised toe - which prevented him from keeping wicket during Central's ensuing innings.

Jefferson, an undervalued player who has carried the drinks for Wellington around New Zealand, provided the bulwark on which a recovery could be built.

He batted 107 minutes through the latter part of the Wellington innings for his 53 runs, putting on 76 with James Franklin in a seventh-wicket partnership which was of inestimable value to his side.

Franklin was out for 22 when Wellington was 154 and Jefferson nine runs later at 163. Their last two batting partnerships carried them to 180 and left them 38 runs behind Central when the innings ended.

Central lost Campbell Furlong at 33 and Peter Ingram at 35 before Sinclair and Smith gave their second innings a touch of authority. When they were separated by Sinclair's dismissal, Central were the game's dominant side.

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