Cricket: Bowlers can't believe their luck at Eden Park

By TERRY MADDAFORD and NZPA

International umpires Brent Bowden and Tony Hill were the bowlers' best friends on the opening day of the new season at Eden Park's outer oval yesterday.

In a tight battle between Auckland and Central Districts, only 216 runs were scored for the loss of 15 wickets, eight of which were ruled leg-before.

At stumps in the State Championship match, the home side had lost five wickets for 90 in reply to Central's 126.

Central, given first use of a wicket with a distinctive greenish tinge, were soon in survival mode.

Richard Scragg was trapped in front for one. By the time the total had reached 20 he had been joined in the pavilion by three of his team-mates, including captain and Worcestershire professional Ben Smith who scored 14 before becoming the third leg-before victim.

Only a gritty 109-minute stay by wicketkeeper-batsman Bevan Grigg who managed an unbeaten 31 - including four of only seven boundaries hit by Central - prevented a complete collapse. He and tailender Lance Hamilton added 35 in taking the total beyond 100.

The Auckland attack never relented. Richard Morgan, a late call-up following Chris Drum's departure for Australia, removed former Aucklanders Scragg and Richard King in an opening spell of 10 overs which earned him two for 14.

Morgan received good support from Kyle Mills, Andre Adams and Tama Canning - the latter pair bagging three wickets each, including two leg-before decisions.

The home side found it no easier against an attack just as menacing.

Matt Horne, with an obvious eye on Matthew Bell's place in the New Zealand team for the upcoming Bangladesh test, got through to 23, but only after surviving a barrage from Brent Hefford.

Nick Horsley was in the middle for 88 minutes for 20 in his first-class debut.

Rob Nicol, another in his first game at this level, needed 22 minutes to get started and at the close had batted resolutely for 82 minutes for 10.

* Watch out for a new-look aggressive batting style from Chris Harris this summer.

Harris heralded a change of attitude toward his batting with a bold 70 in demanding conditions for Canterbury against Wellington at Rangiora.

Despite Harris' 113-ball knock and a polished half-century by Michael Papps, Canterbury were battling after being sent in to bat. They were 189 for seven from 86.3 overs when rain and bad light stopped play at 5.08 pm.

Harris, who turned 32 last week, struck the ball with greater freedom than usual. He dispatched the loose ball in devastating manner, with his first four boundary strokes clearing the fence.

* A rapid start from Northern Districts opener James Marshall had them well placed against Otago in Dunedin.

In reply to Otago's first innings of 215, Marshall scored an unbeaten 45 from as many balls to guide Northern to 69 for one at stumps.

Former test spinner Matthew Hart was the only wicket to fall in the 23 overs Northern faced, while Marshall was severe on pace bowler Craig Pryor who went for 27 off three overs.

Contrasting half-centuries from Brendon McCullum and Craig Cumming helped Otago to their total of 215.

Captain and former test wicketkeeper Lee Germon, playing as a batsman only for his 100th first-class appearance and his first since 1998, had a brief stay before he was trapped leg-before by Joseph Yovich for nine. Yovich finished with 4-55.