A century from wicketkeeper Kruger van Wyk helped Central Districts avoid embarrassment against Canterbury and instead post a competitive total in day one Plunket Shield action today.
Canterbury captain Peter Fulton sent in the visitors in Rangiora, and it looked to be the right choice when Andrew Ellis triggered a collapse in the Stags' top order which saw them fall from 48-0 to a 63-4. But the South African-born van Wyk came to the crease and enjoyed handy partnerships with No 7 Carl Cachopa (56) and No 9 Tarun Nethula (36) to see Central through to 307.
Van Wyk compiled 131, his fifth first class century, before becoming the penultimate Stags' wicket to fall, while Ellis was the pick of the bowlers for the Wizards, finishing with figures of 4-81.
In reply, Canterbury had to face to tricky 12 overs before stumps. It proved to be too much for teenage opener Tom Latham, who was dismissed for a three-ball duck by debutant Roald Badenhorst, but George Worker (11*) and Peter Fulton (14*) avoided further mishap, seeing the home side through to 27-1 at the close of play.
In Lincoln, Auckland's match with Wellington was evenly poised after day one, after the Aces experienced a solid but unspectacular day's batting against bottom placed Wellington, reaching 284-7 at stumps.
