The Otago Volts pushed on to post an encouraging first innings total of 427 today but by stumps Central Districts openers Jeet Raval and Jamie How had already taken a good chunk out of that lead in the Plunket Shield game in Dunedin.

The Volts started day two 181 for four, following a rain-interrupted day one, and dutch international Ryan ten Doeschate sat poised on 88, 12 runs short of his 19th first-class century in his 100th first-class match.

Ten Doeschate notched up the century before being run out on 118.

Sam Wells (63), Mark Craig (63) and Neil Wagner (68) picked up from where the overseas import left-off getting the Volts through to a pleasing first innings score.

However that confidence was slowly drained from the home side as Raval and How got into their work posting a 107-run opening stand.

They were patient but pounced on the bad ball when required, setting their team up for an intriguing chase tomorrow as Central Districts try to overhaul 427.

Raval did go late in the day when he was caught behind from the bowling of Neil Wagner for 47 but he had already paid a key role in a good start with the bat for the visitors.

The Volts trio of seamers, Neil Wagner, Jacob Duffy and Ian Butler got through a good work out this afternoon with just the one bit of reward and will need to try find a spark tomorrow morning to put the Central Districts top-order under-pressure.

Rain has disrupted the first two days of this game and bad light late in the day has also been a factor.

However the forecast is much brighter for the second half of the fixture tomorrow and Thursday.

Otago - First innings

AJ Redmond c MS Sinclair b AY Patel 63
HD Rutherford c JM How b AR Lamb 2
MG Bracewell c AR Lamb b PD Trego 4
RN ten Doeschate run out (JA Raval) 118
NT Broom c sub (AW Mathieson) b AY Patel 14
SR Wells b PD Trego 63
IA Robertson lbw b AY Patel 17
MD Craig b AR Lamb 63
N Wagner c JA Raval b AY Patel 68
IG Butler b BJ Small 2
JA Duffy not out 0
Extras (lb 13, nb 0) 13
Total (for 10 wickets, 111.3 overs) 427 

Fall: 1-4 (HD Rutherford, 1.4), 2-15 (MG Bracewell, 8.6), 3-142 (AJ Redmond, 34.6), 4-174 (NT Broom, 46.3), 5-241 (RN ten Doeschate, 67.3), 6-275 (IA Robertson, 76.2), 7-300 (SR Wells, 86.1), 8-419 (MD Craig, 106.4), 9-427 (IG Butler, 110.2), 10-427 (N Wagner, 111.3)

Bowling: PD Trego 25-3-56-2, AR Lamb 19-1-72-2, RF Badenhorst 14-1-91-0, BJ Small 20-3-81-1, AY Patel 28.3-6-86-4, Carl Cachopa 5-1-28-0

Central Districts - First innings

JA Raval c MG Bracewell b N Wagner 47
JM How not out 52
Carl Cachopa not out 8
Extras (lb 3, wd 1, nb 4) 8
Total (for 1 wicket, 38.0 overs) 115

Fall: 1-107 (JA Raval, 36.2)

Bowling: N Wagner 11-4-28-1 (1nb), JA Duffy 10-3-22-0 (1nb), IG Butler 10-4-42-0 (1w, 2nb), MD Craig 7-2-20-0

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