KEY POINTS:
Players returning from duty with the New Zealand team made a huge difference for Central Districts in a State Championship cricket match against Northern Districts in Napier yesterday.
The home side entered the match at McLean Park a listless last in the standings after claiming just two first innings results and four points from their seven previous outings.
Internationals Jamie How, Mathew Sinclair and Ross Taylor were all among the runs as Central Districts responded to the invitation to bat from visiting captain James Marshall by scoring 357 for four on the first day of the four-day fixture.
But these three were upstaged by journeyman opener Peter Ingram, who kicked things along nicely with his second century of the season during an opening stand of 115 with How.
Ingram and How scored at more than four runs an over before How departed for 53, then Ingram and Sinclair added a further 121 for the second wicket, again at a good clip.
Ingram was finally dismissed for 112, containing 21 boundaries in 227 minutes.
Meanwhile, Canterbury's obstinate lower order denied Otago total domination on their opening day in Dunedin. There was a lot of talk in the outfield as Canterbury were reduced to 54 for five at Carisbrook, although things quietened considerably after that.
Canterbury were eventually dismissed for a respectable 247, many more than at one stage appeared likely, after their lower order batsmen followed the lead of Johann Myburgh.
By stumps Otago were 26 for 1 in response, with Craig Cumming and Greg Todd set to resume today.
Rain frustrated Auckland's plans when the first day of their match was washed out in Wellington. Auckland need to beat Wellington outright in the four-day fixture at the Basin Reserve to have any chance of forcing their way into the final.
Wellington lead the competition on 32 points, followed by Canterbury on 26 and Auckland on 20.
- NZPA
