Cricket: Bell gives Wellington a ringing start

Captain Matthew Bell's third Shell Trophy century of the season dominated the opening day of Wellington's fourth-round match against Central Districts in Napier yesterday.

Bell held court for the first two sessions after Central Districts skipper Jacob Oram had won the toss and asked the visitors to bat.

The decision appeared to be backfiring in a big way with Wellington at 212 for one and Bell in commanding mood. But four wickets in the final session left Wellington 269 for five at stumps.

Bell's 117 after nearly five hours at the crease included 13 boundaries. He was aided in getting the Wellington innings off to the best possible start by Richard Jones.

They put on 149 for the first wicket, both looking composed and fluent, despatching any loose deliveries to the ropes.

Jones, who struck eight fours and hoisted teenage paceman Taraia Robin over the mid-wicket boundary in an innings of 68, looked set to reach triples figures until a mistimed shot sent a return catch to Robin.

Wellington continued to progress comfortably, though at a slower rate, with Bell and Selwyn Blackmore taking their side through to 184 for one at tea.

After shrugging off rain interruptions in the first session to score at a steady clip, Bell had to work hard through the 80s and 90s and went to tea on 98.

Singles in the first two overs after the break saw him through to his fourth century of the 2000-01 domestic programme.

He has also topped three figures in the Shell Cup one-day competition.

Blackmore, who survived a confident appeal for caught behind off left-arm seamer Ewen Thompson on 38, failed to add to his score before skying a catch to Michael Mason at fine leg in Thompson's next over.

The wickets of wicketkeeper Chris Nevin and former Central Districts allrounder Matthew Walker in the 10 minutes before stumps left the game evenly poised.

Nevin was judged leg-before to give Robin his second wicket and offspinner Glen Sulzberger collected his second victim when Walker edged the last ball to Craig Spearman at first slip.

- NZPA