Cricket: Batsmen claim fine booty

Dean Brownlie made his 10th first-class century. Photo / File

Batsmen went plundering in Plunket Shield cricket yesterday.

There were four centuries with another one in sight, as bowlers were put through hoops in the eighth-round games.

Northern Districts openers Dean Brownlie and Brad Wilson shared a 214-run opening stand against Otago at Seddon Park, setting up the home side to be 327 for two at stumps on the opening day of their clash.

Brownlie made his 10th first-class ton, 128 off 185 balls, while Wilson was unbeaten on his best first-class score, 156. At 45, he went past 4000 first-class runs.

Their stand is ND's second-best opening partnership, behind the 274 of BJ Watling and Wilson at Whangarei against Wellington in 2010-11.

Jeet Raval's 10th first-class century pushed Auckland to 271 for two in their first innings, trailing Wellington by 73 at Colin Maiden Park.

Raval starts today on 137. He shared a second wicket stand of 77 with Carl Cachopa, and his 166-run third wicket stand with Colin Munro, who is on 86, will resume this morning. Earlier in the day Lockie Ferguson picked up his best first-class figures, four for 46, as Wellington added 49 to their overnight 295 for seven.

In Nelson, leaders Canterbury are well placed at the halfway stage against Central Districts. Resuming at 329 for five, Canterbury moved on to 463, with Andrew Ellis, 42 overnight, completing his fifth first-class hundred, making 112.

He rounded off a good personal day with three wickets for 38 from 12 overs as CD reached 215 for five, with opener Ben Smith making 80 and Tom Bruce unbeaten on 41.