Auckland have nine and half fingers wrapped firmly around the Plunket Shield's wooden spoon after another poor day of cricket.

After surrendering a 129-run first innings lead to fellow strugglers Canterbury, a wounded Auckland side limped to stumps tonight at 110-7 in their second innings.

They still trail by 19 with hard working skipper Gareth Hopkins (25no) and bowler Michael Bates (1no) at the crease.

It was all Canterbury's day at Hagley Oval as the visitors showed little fight.

Canterbury resumed this morning at 128-1 and while they never really got away on Auckland, the hosts comfortably got through to 297-6.

That was when Auckland had their first and only dominant period of the game.

Young quick Lachie Ferguson picked up two wickets, Ben McCord was needlessly run out by Matt Quinn and Colin de Grandhomme skittled Canterbury No 11 Matt McEwan to truncate the innings at 302.

Canterbury's last four wickets fell in just 14 balls for the cost of just five runs.

Trailing by 129, Auckland needed a strong start. Instead, they had the worst start possible.

Canterbury left-armer Ryan McCone bowled the perfect first ball of the innings to Auckland's Michael Barry.

The ball jagged back into the left-hander, beating him neck and crop, and clipped the top of middle stump.

Dusan Hakaraia (32) and Craig Cachopa (24) put on 45 for the third wicket but both went after getting themselves starts.

McEwan was the pick of the Canterbury bowlers taking 3-41 from 15 while first innings bowling hero Shanan Stewart claimed Cachopa, taking 1-15 from eight miserly overs. 

- © Fairfax NZ News