Cricket: Maiden century turns tide

When Andrew de Boorder missed out on a first-class contract with Auckland this season, his chances of making an impact seemed slim.

But he showed good pre-season form, won a spot for the opening Plunket Shield match against Central Districts and cashed in yesterday.

His maiden first-class century in just his sixth match, an unbeaten 125, helped Auckland to take charge on day two of the game in Napier. CD start today on 84 for three replying to 403.

De Boorder, 20, faced 250 balls and hit 17 fours, delighting coach Paul Strang. "It was really a top-drawer innings," he said last night. "His shot selection was excellent."

De Boorder came in at 180 for five and with Auckland teetering. However a 139-run stand with fast-medium bowler Daryl Tuffey for the seventh wicket pulled the innings together, Tuffey hitting 56.

The last three wickets fell for a solitary run, but Auckland start today with the whip hand.

"The game was in the balance a bit when he came in but he showed a lot of maturity beyond his years and he's taken his chance," Strang added.

Allrounder Joey Yovich hit a fine unbeaten 128, his third first-class hundred in his 90th match, to boost Northern Districts against Otago in Dunedin.

Responding to Otago's paltry first innings 88, ND reached 410, Yovich sharing stands of 99 for the eighth wicket with Graeme Aldridge (62) and 112 for the ninth with Bradley Scott (65), both records for ND against Otago.

Otago fared far better in their second innings and at stumps were 165 for one, still 157 runs behind ND, with captain Craig Cumming on 91, nine shy of a 16th first-class century.

In Wellington, Canterbury were poised for a first innings points battle, wobbling at 139 for six in reply to Wellington's first innings 214.

Former Auckland allrounder Rob Nicol top scored for Canterbury with 38 while Iain O'Brien had taken three for 55.