Mark Chapman's seventh-first class cricket century has helped Auckland take command over Canterbury on the opening day of round three in cricket's Plunket Shield

The Aces finished day one on 372 for four - Chapman resumes on on 181 runs, alongside new IPL recruit Bevon-John Jacobs on 53.

In Hamilton, Northern Districts will resume on 11 for two, after Otago declared at 301 for nine.

And Central Districts start their day on seven without loss, after Wellington - helped by Tim Robinson's 91 - declared on 251 for nine.

Play resumes at 10:30am.