Cricket: Patience vital as Wilson strikes 123 at Cobham

Northlander Brad Wilson, playing for Otago, plays the ball backward of point on his way to a patient century yesterday. Photo / John Stone

The opening day of the cricket season's final Plunket Shield match in Whangarei started well for Northlander Brad Wilson.

Captaining the Otago side, Wilson won the toss, and chose to bat against Northern Districts on a low, slowish Cobham Oval pitch on day one of this four-day match.

The wicket required patience, something opener Wilson had in spades on his way to 123 off 289 balls, including 14 fours and one six.

Otago, placed last on the Plunket Shield table, are playing for pride against ND, who cannot advance beyond the fourth place they held going into yesterday's match. Otago ended the day 285/5 after 96 overs.

As of yesterday, Auckland had already wrapped up the Plunket Shield title with a round to spare, after drawing with Wellington at the Basin Reserve last week. At Cobham Oval, five partners started alongside Wilson but most failed to push beyond the 30s. Jimmy Neesham was an exception, managing 35 before falling to Tony Goodin.

Josh Finnie also provided some entertainment in the late afternoon sun, throwing caution to the southerly breeze to at one point be sitting on 20, all from boundaries.

He finished 32 no after a few quiet words from his captain saw his 160 strike rate settle down to a more sedate 69 at the end of the day.

Earlier, opener Ryan Duffy had grafted 18 runs off 40 balls, with three boundaries among the 18 before he fell to James Baker, the best of the Northern District bowlers.

Baker walked off Cobham Oval at the end of the day with 3-56 after also snaring the wickets of left hander Michael Bracewell (22) and Derek de Boorder (11).

Anaru Kitchen also chimed in with 23, until he became spinner Anton Devcich's only victim of the day.

Medium pacer Daryl Mitchell went wicketless, but his 0-15 off nine overs was the day's most miserly effort.

Scott Kuggeleijn (20 overs) and Joe Walker (21 overs) toiled hard for no reward.

The match is set down for four days, with wet weather predicted for Friday set to play a part in the outcome.