Cricket: Fulton makes claim with another ton

Peter Fulton. Photo / Getty Images

Canterbury opener Peter Fulton made another claim for a return to the top level with a century in his team's six-wicket Plunket Shield victory over Wellington today, his third ton in four innings.

After a dismal second innings batting performance in their 10-wicket defeat to Sri Lanka in Galle, the national side needs all the options it can get, although Fulton has failed to take his opportunities in the past.

There is no denying his form in this competition, however. In four innings he has scores of 102, 108, 79 and 104.

His latest came off 80 balls and ended when he was stumped off Grant Elliott's bowling. Fulton's partnership with Shanan Stewart, who hit 57, was a big factor in Canterbury's victory.

Needing 303 runs off 61 overs after Wellington declared their second innings closed at 364-5, Canterbury set about their task intelligently and timed their run to perfection.

Tom Latham and Brad Cachopa who were unbeaten on 53 and 28 respectively, carried their side to victory in the 60th over.

Fulton has played 10 tests after making his debut against the West Indies in Auckland in 2006. He has a top score of 75 but failed to find his feet, which was reflected in his average of just under 21. The 33-year-old's last test was against Pakistan in Wellington in 2009.

The other player making waves with the bat at Mainpower Oval in Rangiora was Wellington opener Michael Papps, who scored an unbeaten 206, his highest first class score. Papps, 33, has also been tried and discarded by New Zealand.

Fulton's team-mate Dean Brownlie impressed in the first innings, scoring 133, his second century in five Plunket Shield innings this season. Brownlie hit 30 in Canterbury's second innings today.

Left-handed opener Josh Brodie scored 74 in Wellington's second innings.