Cricket: Batting display well timed

James Franklin showed a perfect sense of timing in more ways than one as he hammered a career-best century to give Wellington a stranglehold on their State Championship match against Auckland yesterday.

With Chris Cairns retired and Jacob Oram still battling a foot injury, Franklin thrust his hand up for the test allrounder's spot against the West Indies with an unbeaten 173 at the Basin Reserve.

At stumps on the second day Wellington were 436 for five and in the box seat to extend their lead atop the points table.

Just once in his 100 previous first-class innings had the left-arm pace bowler reached three figures, scoring 108 in the 2003-04 season.

But his batting showed signs of improvement this season and he showed even more yesterday against a bowling attack containing internationals Chris Martin, Tama Canning and Andre Adams.

At stumps he had faced just 214 balls, batted just over five hours and hit 22 fours and three sixes.

A maiden double-century beckons today with solid support from gloveman Chris Nevin, 48 not out after the pair added a rapid unbroken 111 for the sixth wicket.

Strugglers Auckland began the day defending a meagre first-innings total of 235 but young paceman Lance Shaw gave them early hope trapping Michael Parlane and Jesse Ryder leg before wicket cheaply.

But Franklin and Neal Parlane found the easy-paced Basin surface to their liking, adding 216 for the fifth wicket as Parlane reached his third first-class century.

His innings of 110 was ended by Shaw who shattered his stumps.

Shaw ended with three for 90 off 23 overs while test paceman Martin had a tough day, conceding 94 runs off 27 wicketless overs.


ND v Canterbury

Big scores proved elusive but Canterbury's batsmen all chipped in as they claimed first-innings points in Hamilton yesterday.

Half-centuries from veteran Gary Stead and Andrew Ellis helped the visitors reach 310 for seven at stumps in reply to Northern's first innings of 269.

All the Canterbury batsmen got good starts, with Shanan Stewart's 17 the lowest score among the top eight.

Seamer Brent Arnel cut off Canterbury's half-centurions just as they threatened to take charge and bat the home side out of the match.

Arnel had Stead caught for 51 then Ellis, after reaching his fourth first-class half-century, was trapped leg before for the top score of 57. Ellis laboured just short of three hours over his innings but it was invaluable after Northern had a chance with Canterbury 146 for four.

Other key contributions came from former test opener Michael Papps, who scored 45, and New Zealand under-19 allrounder Todd Astle, who scored 41 batting at No 7.

Paceman Joseph Yovich took the key wickets of Papps, Craig McMillan for 23 and Astle who was trapped lbw.

Yovich had a mixed day with 10 no-balls in his 18 overs, ending with three for 91, while Arnel had a tidier two for 34 off 17. The second new ball couldn't polish off the Canterbury innings as former test spinner Paul Wiseman was 31 not out at stumps, the first innings lead already 41.


CD v Otago

Key late wickets doused Otago's blazing bats as Central Districts maintained their grip in New Plymouth.

Otago reached 191 for five at stumps thanks to Jordan Sheed's 89, in reply to Central's first innings of 416 on an excellent batting surface at Pukekura Park.

Central's bowlers had a fight on their hands when Otago openers Sheed and Craig Cumming plundered an opening partnership of 77, the 50 coming up in just the eighth over against left-armers Lance Hamilton and Ewen Thompson.

Allrounder Brendon Diamanti broke the partnership when he had Cumming caught behind for 31 but Sheed raced on, reaching 50 off 61 balls.

Hamilton then recovered from a horror opening spell to apply the brakes to the innings.

He had first-class debutant Shaun Haig caught on the fine leg boundary by Greg Hegglun for 19, then Sean Eathorne caught behind in the same over without scoring.

The vital wickets came late in the day, with Sheed removed for his equal highest first-class score of 89 and Gareth Hopkins for seven.

- NZPA