KEY POINTS:
Dewayne Bowden's maiden first class century added a deserved sheen to Wellington's ascendancy over title holders Northern Districts in their State Championship cricket encounter in Hamilton yesterday.
Bowden, 25, survived a classic 20-minute period becalmed in the nervous 90s before he advanced with his 14th boundary at Seddon Park.
English tailender Charlie Shreck played his part, negotiating nine balls as Bowden's anxiety level rose at the non-striker's end before he confidently drove through the covers and acknowledged the hardy few that had braved cool conditions.
Having scaled that psychological barrier, Bowden also found the ropes with his next delivery before Wellington captain Michael Parlane declared the innings closed at 360 for nine - a lead of 136.
Resuming at 302 for eight, having already eclipsed their hosts' 224, Wellington's tail wagged appreciably as Bowden, playing his 11th first class game, advanced from his overnight score of 69.
He ended unbeaten on 106 off 177 balls, a handy return considering the last of the recognised batsmen strode to the middle when Wellington's run chase was evenly poised at 150 for six.
His overnight ally Lee Edwards was the only casualty when he was trapped leg before wicket to Mark Orchard for 27, ending a frustrating 66-run stand for the ninth wicket.
Northern's batsmen made a decent fist of regaining parity and by stumps were just 16 runs from going into credit on 120 for two.
Shreck, a Nottinghamshire pro back in New Zealand for the first time since 1999, had a hand in both dismissals.
Orchard reached stumps unbeaten on 64 while James Marshall was on a measured five off 55 balls in the face of some accurate bowling, particularly from paceman Shreck, who took one for 25 off 15.
CENTRAL DISTRICTS v OTAGO
Central Districts continue to dictate terms in their State Championship opener despite Otago stoutly bracing themselves against the elements before avoiding another whirlwind knock from Mathew Sinclair in Napieryesterday.
Otago overcame the concession of two quick wickets during a frigid morning session to give Central's first innings of 405 for four a decent nudge on Nelson Park before finally succumbing for 357 - 48 runs shy of stealing first innings points.
Overnight batsmen Derek de Boorder (1) and Marcel McKenzie (8) added just five runs to raise the prospect of Otago conceding a significant first innings deficit but captain Nathan McCullum, with a composed 56, and Warren McSkimming - who was last out for 60 - gave Central Districts some cause for concern.
Spin twins Robbie Schaw and Tim Lythe combined to chip away at the Otago innings, taking nine of the wickets between them.
Lythe took three for 106 from 39 overs while Schaw's less conservative leg breaks were more effective as he claimed four for 57 off 17.5 overs.
Any prospect of Otago continuing their momentum gradually evaporated despite opener Geoff Barnett's stodgy form continuing.
After recording a 42 ball-duck in the first innings, the Canadian World Cup international took another 15 balls to complete his first run - and added just three more before falling to slow bowler McCullum.
Sinclair, who made a province-high unbeaten 243 in the first innings, again looked in ominous form, breezing to 47 before a loose stroke saw him depart when McSkimming took a regulation catch off another spinner, Aaron Redmond.
Central Districts start today's fourth and final day with an overall lead of 187. Tim Weston is the other batsman not out on 10.
AUCKLAND v CANTERBURY
Canterbury's inclement Cup week weather and a resolute rearguard action from Andrew Ellis and Brandon Hiini thwarted Auckland's march to outright victory.
Having inflicted all manner of pain on the Canterbury batting line-up on Tuesday - overnight rain, bitter southerlies and intermittent showers conspired to delay Auckland's drive for at least first innings points at the QEII Park Village Green.
Facing two days of survival after slumping to a perilous 85 for six in response to Auckland's 417 for eight declared, Canterbury's task was made easier given the players' only appearance on the oval prior to lunch was to help battling groundstaff reaffix the covers.
Play finally got under way at 3.45pm, leaving Canterbury to negotiate a minimum of 47 overs as they sought to cobble together 268 to avoid the follow on.
Given the time spent meandering around the pavilion watching the leaden skies, Ellis and Hiini showed admirable concentration as they both forged face-saving half centuries.
The pair ultimately added a morale-boosting 111 for the seventh wicket as Canterbury crawled to 177 for seven at stumps - having eaten away enough time to presumably deny Auckland maximum points with a day to complete.
Andre Adams, who put five batsmen back in the hutch - and Ian Robertson into hospital with concussion - was nowhere near as threatening, despite the gloomy conditions, as Canterbury knuckled down.
Ellis was the only fresh casualty when he was trapped adjacent by medium pacer Lance Shaw for a patient 234-ball 58 with the score at 171.
The right hander - who was joined by Hiini after Robertson was dispatched to hospital - needed 197 balls to reach a half-century that contained just four boundaries.
Hiini and Leighton Burtt, who is yet to score after facing 16 deliveries, are tasked with continuing the delaying tactics today.
- NZPA
