Cricket: Broom states his Black Cap credentials

Neil Broom. Photo / Richard Robinson

Otago captain Craig Cumming believes Neil Broom deserves a stint higher up the order for New Zealand after watching him pile on more runs for the southerners yesterday.

Broom holds the key to this evenly poised match, ending day three unbeaten on 86. Otago require 126 more runs with five wickets in hand to continue Auckland's Plunket Shield points drought.

Heading into this match Broom was the country's highest first-class run scorer this season, with 395 in three matches. If he scores 14 more runs today it will be his third first-class ton of the season.

They're figures that Cumming thinks is a indication he has not been used effectively at the highest level.

"He's had an interesting 12 months that, in the long run, will help him become a better player," Cumming said. "He's actually been picked on his four-day form and while he can hit a long ball, he's a stylish player. I hope he can bat higher in the order for New Zealand rather than just [be] a powerplay batter who gets shifted up and down the order.

"It's really hard to get any batting rhythm doing that and he is showing for us what he can do when he has got that rhythm."

Another looking for rhythm will be offspinner Bhupinder Singh.

The 23-year-old, playing just his second first-class match, tore through the Otago middle order just when it looked like Cumming and Broom were making no race of the chase for 314.

They had taken the score to 142-2 before Cumming (59) holed out to mid off. Singh quickly mopped up Derek de Boorder (10) and Warren McSkimming (0) to leave the visitors reeling at 154-5.

Broom and Leighton Morgan (17), steadied the wobbles with an unbroken sixth-wicket partnership of 34 before stumps were drawn.

NORTHERN DISTRICTS V CANTERBURY

Plunket Shield leaders Northern Districts needed more than help from above to avert a heavy loss to Canterbury in Hamilton yesterday.

Canterbury cantered to a 10-wicket win after the competition pacesetters capitulated for 111 in their second innings at Seddon Park despite rain briefly coming to their aid midway through the last session on the third day of the four-day match.

Seeking cover with their innings in tatters at 79 for eight, Northern Districts only delayed the inevitable. Joseph Yovich made a defiant 27 not out before running out of partners.

That left Canterbury requiring 28 for victory, which they duly reached without loss inside eight overs.

WELLINGTON V CENTRAL DISTRICTS

Central Districts face a tough day at the office to save their match against Wellington today. They enter the final day at the Basin Reserve with 10 second innings wickets in hand, but trailing by 374 runs.

After running through the Central Districts lineup to dismiss them for 205 and earn a first innings lead of 235 runs, Wellington tightened their hold as they quickly posted 207 for four declared in their second innings.

Facing a distant target of 443 for victory, Central Districts openers Peter Ingram and Jamie How reached 69 without loss in the hour until the close.

- ADDITIONAL REPORTING: NZPA