Canterbury begin well in search for vital points

After a delayed start yesterday, the State Championship match between Canterbury and Auckland was underway on time in perfect conditions at the Village Green today.

At the ground in the outer suburbs of Christchurch, all signs of rain had been driven away, and the forecast is for three further days of fine weather.

Auckland resumed play on 127/5, and the first three overs proved full of drama.

Ryan Burson began the day with a double wicket maiden, clinching his third wicket of the match. On the fourth ball of the second over Bradley Nielsen was out lbw for nine.

Captain Brooke Walker came to the crease, but was out first ball, when he tried to push a delivery down which kicked up and was caught by Robbie Frew.

Then Andre Adams came in to join Rob Nicol, but he denied Burson his hat-trick.

Cleighten Cornelius joined the bowling attack in the third over, with brother and strike bowler Wade off the field with a suspected stress fracture.

Auckland adopted a more attacking approach when bowlers Paul Wiseman and Peter Fulton came on. Nicol who only debuted this season, knocked up his half century with a drive down the ground for four off 128 deliveries.

Burson took the new ball in the 81st over, but this was no challenge for Adams and Nicol who used the pace of the ball to bring up their 100-run partnership in the 89th over.

Milestones kept on rolling and Adams brought up his half century off 72 balls, including eight fours.

Right-arm medium-paced seamer Fulton was brought into the bowling attack shortly after, to try to get a breakthrough for the red and blacks, but Adams smashed him for 16 off one over.

It was Wiseman who came up with the answer though - the spinner had Adams caught by Fulton at long on. He made 72 runs off 93 balls including a dozen fours. This was his highest score in first-class cricket.

This ended their 133-run partnership, which was 10 off the record for an eighth-wicket partnership in an Auckland versus Canterbury game.

Sanjeewa Silva came to the crease, but was back in the dressing room four balls later without scoring a run.

Nicol, now on 99, was probably worried he would be left without a partner to score his century, but made this the following over off 206 balls, over a period of 259 minutes. His innings included ten fours and a six and was his second for Auckland this season.

He was out for 104 off 213, which brought the first Auckland innings to a close, and Canterbury 272 to chase.

Canterbury opening batsmen Frew and Shanan Stewart, were put in the hands of pace bowlers Adams and Gareth Shaw.

When Silva took over from Adams at the northern end, he took the first Canterbury wicket when Frew edged a ball through to wicket-keeper Reece Young for 14.

Michael Papps came to the crease, but soon after his partner was clean bowled by Shaw for 26, when he was just establishing his innings.

Marcel McKenzie, appearing for the first time this season, was next in due to Chris Harris being called up to the New Zealand Test team. McKenzie was called in himself to field for Chris Cairns in the Test against England last week.

Tama Canning and Nielsen continued bowling after tea, with Nielsen having two catches put down.

Canterbury began to up their strike rate towards the 50th over, but took nearly three hours to get 100 runs on the board.

Shaw was brought into the attack, after St John staff used the groundsman's drill to release pressure welling up under his toe, with leg-spinner and captain Walker.

Soon after Papps brought up his ninth first-class 50, and at stumps Canterbury had a total of 150 with Papps on 64 and McKenzie on 29.

Umpires Gary Baxter and Dave Quested, called off play at the close of 96 overs, due to bad light. Both Shaw and Silva finished the day with a wicket apiece.

New Zealand selector Brian McKechnie was among the ranks at the game today, possibly looking at future selection prospects.