KEY POINTS:
Matthew Bell's innings of 188 not out has set the stage for an exciting finish to Wellington's third round State Championship match with Canterbury at the Basin Reserve today.
At stumps on the third day, Canterbury were six for none, chasing 356 for a win after Wellington declared their second innings at 414 runs for eight.
Bell, resuming on his overnight score of 43, received able support from Neil Parlane when play resumed yesterday morning.
The pair shared a partnership of 168 runs before Parlane went for 78, caught by Shanan Stewart off Corey Anderson just after lunch.
With Canterbury toiling to apply pressure on the Wellington batsmen, Bell and Grant Elliott piled the runs on in a fifth wicket stand of 131 before Elliott gave a catch to Michael Papps off an Andrew Ellis delivery.
Bell needed 227 balls to bring up his record breaking 16th century for Wellington, the 19th of his first class career.
When skipper Michael Parlane called his batsmen in, Bell was 31 runs short of his highest first class score.
Brendon Hiini, who took five wickets in Wellington's first innings, was unable to repeat his heroics and settled for Michael Parlane's wicket.
The pick of the Canterbury bowlers were Willie Lonsdale who snapped up the wickets of Luke Woodcock (0) and Jesse Ryder (10) and Johann Myburgh who accounted for Chris Nevin (5) and Daniel Bowden (2).
- NZPA
