Cricket: Dravid's 102 for Canterbury

Critics of the move to allow India's test cricketers time in the State Championship got some ammunition when Rahul Dravid plundered a century for Canterbury against Central Districts yesterday.

Dravid (102) relished the flat Rangiora surface, and his new teammates were clearly inspired as Michael Papps (127) and Johann Myburgh (102no) also notched centuries as Canterbury racked up 388 for five by stumps on day one.

New Zealand Cricket agreed to India's request to place their six test specialists in the domestic competition to warmup.

It meant 131-test veteran Dravid was assigned to bottom-placed Canterbury and legspinner Amit Mishra with competition leaders Central.

But the pitch was clearly more suitable for runscoring than legspin, as Mishra took none for 101 off 28 overs while Dravid showed his skill.

Former test opener Papps got Canterbury off to a flyer, hitting 20 boundaries in his 157-ball knock, including 20 fours. He and Dravid added 93 for the second wicket, before Dravid and Myburgh added 153.

Dravid played a more patient innings, raising his 56th first-class century off 160 balls. He batted 226 minutes and faced 164 deliveries before allrounder Brendon Diamanti enticed a catch to captain Mathew Sinclair.

Myburgh reached his ninth first-class century off 147 balls just before stumps as Canterbury cruised along at just under four runs per over.

Meanwhile, Scott Styris issued a "don't forget me" message to the national selectors as he rescued Auckland from trouble on day one of their State Championship cricket match against Northern Districts.

He scored 95 in the visitors' first innings of 277. The hosts faced 10 scoreless deliveries in reply without losing a wicket before stumps were drawn early.

- NZPA