Tim Southee collects 7 wickets

Tim Southee delivered a message that he's back to full fitness and raring to take on Australia, after ripping through Wellington in Plunket Shield cricket action.

The 22-year-old quick continued his comeback from a knee injury by taking 7-37 to put Northern Districts in a dominant position on day one of their second-round clash with the Firebirds yesterday. The Knights bowled out Wellington for 162 in two sessions at Lincoln, before cruising to 156-1 at stumps, trailing by just six runs.

Southee struck early and often against Wellington as he seeks match fitness ahead of a two-test tour to Australia next month. He removed Wellington opener Josh Brodie for four, before new ball partner Trent Boult struck twice in the fourth over to remove Michael Papps (4) and returning Black Cap Jesse Ryder for a three-ball duck.

Stephen Murdoch and captain Grant Elliott stemmed the bleeding for the Firebirds, putting on a century stand for the fourth wicket, but from there on it was the Southee show. He took the last six wickets in Wellington's innings to record his sixth first class five-wicket haul and bring his bowling average below 30.

Knights' captain Brad Wilson and Kane Williamson put on an unbeaten 137-run partnership to close the day out, both reaching half-centuries.

Playing on the adjacent Bert Sutcliffe oval at Lincoln, Central spinner Tarun Nethula almost matched Southee for destruction at the bowling crease. He took 6-32 as Central Districts dismissed Otago for 207.

Black Caps batsman Brendon McCullum scored 26 from 34 opening the batting for Central before falling victim to Carl Cachopa, while all-rounder Sam Wells was the pick of the batsmen, scoring 57. The Stags were 49-1 at the end of play, trailing by 156.

At Rangiora, the trend of the day was reversed, with Canterbury reaching stumps at a commanding 324-5 against competition leaders Auckland, led by Black Cap Dean Brownlie's unbeaten century.

Kyle Mills struck in the second over of the day to claim the wicket of Rob Nichol, and the day looked evenly poised at lunch with Canterbury on 103-3. But Brownlie and fellow Black Cap Reece Young (80) put on 171 runs for the fifth wicket to put the hosts firmly in charge.

- Kris Shannon