Cricket: Bailey deals himself a full house of centuries

By TERRY MADDAFORD

TAUPO - Mark Bailey's first Shell Trophy century for Northern Districts against Auckland has given him the full hand of a hundred against the other five first-class associations and fulfilled one of his early-season ambitions.

"I had set my sights on that," Bailey said after scoring exactly 100 of Northern's 275 for five on the first day of the match in ideal conditions at Owen Delany Park in Taupo. "My previous best in 15 innings against Auckland was only 63 but I had scored a hundred against all the other sides."

With national selection panel convener Ross Dykes among the sparse crowd, Bailey could not have picked a better time to post the eighth century of a career stretching back to the 1989-90 season.

While not being drawn on the likely composition of the yet-to-be-named New Zealand A team to tour England later in the year, Dykes said an innings of the class constructed by Bailey yesterday would do no harm.

"As selectors we have to consider a number of players," he said. "We have to weigh various options but there is no doubt there is no more elegant player in New Zealand cricket today than Mark Bailey."

There was a touch of class in his 181-minute stay. Those trademark shots to all corners - 14 boundaries and a six - were a salutary reminder of just how good Bailey can be. But in holing out to Kerry Walmsley moments after reaching the milestone, Bailey probably felt he had blown the chance of a really big score with the one false shot of his innings.

After a steady 105-run, 162-minute opening partnership between Michael Parlane and James Marshall, who also posted their best scores against Auckland, Northern picked up the pace as Bailey and Neal Parlane added 83 at a run a minute for the third wicket.

Once Parlane, Hamish Marshall and Bailey departed, the run-rate fell away.

To their credit, the Aucklanders stuck tirelessly to their task, which was never going to be easy on a pitch tailor-made for batting.

They restricted ND to just 87 in the pre-lunch session of 140 minutes and were rarely dominated by the batsmen.

Even late in the day, and after being under the sapping sun, the Auckland bowlers - captain Blair Pocock called on only five - gave nothing away. They gave up only 79 runs in the 128-minute post-tea session to feel justifiably they had at least shared the first-day honours.