Cricket: Bruce shows versatility with fourth ton

CD batsman Tom Bruce is a man of all seasons with seasons after his fourth Plunket Shield century yesterday. PHOTO/John Velvin, ESPNZ

It is fair to say the Auckland Aces are on the front foot today in the four-day ... err three-day ... Plunket Shield cricket match against the Central Districts Stags.

Whatever the outcome of the final day of the first-class match amid some sporty declarations at Colin Maiden Park, there has never been doubts about the calibre of some of the CD cricketers this summer when someone always stepped up to the crease when push came to shove.

Yesterday it was the turn of Twenty20 Black Caps batsman Tom Bruce to again show why Mike Hesson needs to persevere with him in all three formats.

Batting at No 6, the 25-year-old was unbeaten on 127 runs from 166 balls, including 14 boundaries and a six before the William Young-captained Stags declared at 256-7 following the Aces' 385-5 declaration in the morning.

It was the bolshy Taranaki righthander's fourth century in the format.

"Obviously I enjoy all three formats and that's how I'd like to keep it for now," he said, believing it was about adapting to situations and was relishing making that transition with his form.

"I might as well try to get that to my advantage while I can."

Bruce said the boundary rope on the park was quite expansive but the outfield was quick so he resorted to finding some timing to seek out the fours.

"I wouldn't say I was restraining myself but being patient more in different stages if the day," he said when asked why he looked a little shy in the sixes department.

"I combatted and then counterattacked when I could ... in choosing the right balls and taking my time to get in on a pretty good surface and going after bad balls after lunchtime."

The declarations are coming fast and furious as both sides, desperately needing maximum points to keep their campaigns alive, seek outright victory after a leaky cover on Sunday robbed them of an entire day's play.

"Obviously we're not waiting for that because we're just going to go out to try to take wickets and score the runs but if it comes to that we'll be looking at chasing something down as well," said Bruce last night after Auckland were 2-44 from 17.3 overs in their second dig although opening batsmen Michael Guptill-Bunce retired hurt on 13 runs when a wicked Seth Rance delivery caught him on the hop.

"I'm not too sure what's happened there with Guptill-Bunce. Seth caught him on the elbow so I'm not sure if he's gone for an x-ray or not."

The Aces are leading by 173 runs with the two Patels, Ajaz and Navin, claiming a scalp each.

"We bowled well after that last period after drinks in the 17 overs when we asking questions of the batsmen."

Bruce said the Aces were one of the teams at the top of the table and CD weren't so it was a bit of a catch-22 situation so, hopefully, Auckland would play ball today. The Heinrich Malan-coached Stags are fifth on the table and a loss will end their red-ball season.

The hosts, who have three debutants in their mix, bowled well especially through India-born Aniket Parikh, 19, with his right-arm offbreaks, and Rajvinder Singh Sandhu, 25, a right-arm medium pacer who claimed two wickets each with South African-born left-arm seamer Donovan Grobbelaar.

Bruce said the debutantes impressed but the Stags were prepared to play them in the second innings.