KEY POINTS:
Otago cricket captain Craig Cumming dragged his team to State Championship respectability after early drama yesterday.
Cumming stood at the non-striker's end as Otago slumped to four for two within eight balls of being asked to bat first against Central Districts in Napier.
Shaun Haig and Greg Todd did not trouble the scorers after lasting a collective three balls, immediately vindicating home team captain Mathew Sinclair's decision to bowl first on a new strip at McLean Park.
Thereafter, though, Cumming came good as he registered his 12th first-class century to help propel Otago to a creditable 357.
His 133 was laced with 19 boundaries as he counterattacked with vigour, finding able support from Neil Broom. They
put on 159 in less than 2 hours for the third wicket, Broom's share being 60, with 10 fours.
Their stand was broken shortly after lunch when Broom edged an attempted pull stroke off Mitchell McClenaghan to wicketkeeper Bevan Griggs.
Teenager Hamish Rutherford clouted three sixes in rushing to 41 off just 51
balls before holing out to Sinclair.
Cumming was next to go shortly before tea, caught by McClenaghan off George Worker after a 251-minute innings.
And once Nathan McCullum was dispatched for 35, Otago fell away, although Derek de Boorder and Ian Butler were of
nuisance value in making 19 and 24 respectively.
The Central Districts bowlers worked hard all day in unhelpful conditions, with workhorse Ewen Thompson the standout as he took four for 64 off 25 overs.
-NZPA
