Canterbury's Peter Fulton provided the highlight of Plunket Shield action yesterday, posting a classy double-century against Central Districts.
The achievement continues the well-worn theme of Fulton's career as a towering domestic performer who could not quite make the next step up.
Fulton's time in the national sun appears over, buthis knock yesterday in the bucolic surrounds of Christchurch's newly-appointed Hagley Oval did much to revive the fortunes of his Canterbury team. CD had eked out a 36-run first-innings lead, and at the close of play on Friday had Canterbury precariously perched on 70-2.
That fragility continued yesterday as wickets regularly fell around Fulton, with Central's Doug Bracewell adding three scalps to the six he picked up in the first dig. The next-top score after Fulton's was 37 from opener Ronnie Hira, with Andrew Ellis (32) and Neil Broom (27) also making contributions.
But it was Fulton's long-handle that Canterbury had to thank for righting the ship and getting them to 412-7 by day's end, 376 runs to the good. CD will have a significant task ahead of them if they are to rescue the match.
At the Basin Reserve, Wellington will take a 77-run lead over Auckland into the final day with seven wickets in hand. Yesterday's action was blighted by rain delays but, if Auckland can pick up early wickets today, things could turn interesting quickly.
As the day wound down, Auckland quicks Michael Bates and Matt Quinn removed openers Brady Barnett (7) and Michael Papps (4), before also prising out Michael Pollard (2) to leave Wellington sitting uncomfortably at 83-3.
In Dunedin, Otago will go into day four needing 359 runs to beat Northern Districts with eight wickets in hand as they finished the day on 143-2. Northern had a 191-run lead after the first innings, and resumed yesterday at 4-0.
A terrific partnership between Brad Wilson (82) and Joe Carter (125), who scored his maiden first-class hundred, enabled ND to declare at 301-4, leaving Otago an improbable 499 for victory.
