Cricket: Opening day sees century, five-wicket bag

Two individuals dominated the first day of the match between Canterbury and Central Districts in Timaru yesterday.

Michael Papps anchored Canterbury's first innings, scoring his third first-class century before being dismissed for 114.

Canterbury declared at 245 for nine.

For Central Districts, Michael Mason took his 100th first-class wicket and returned the impressive figures of five for 59 off 25 overs.

It was Mason's fourth bag of five wickets in an innings and would have helped erase the memory of being taken from the same field by ambulance with a broken leg two years ago.

New Zealand batsman Craig McMillan also found some form with the bat, scoring 26 off 52 balls for Canterbury after his dismal run at all levels this summer.

His cameo consisted of five boundaries, including two sixes, in a 55-minute stay at the crease.

He eventually spooned a ball to mid-off from the bowling of Brent Hefford.

At the end of the day, McMillan returned to bowl two lively overs and had two confident shouts for leg-before turned down in the final over of the day.

Canterbury got off to a shaky start, with captain Gary Stead heading back to the pavilion for a duck off the third ball of the day after Central Districts won the toss and chose to field.

Robbie Frew also struggled for runs, facing 78 balls for his two before becoming Mason's first victim.

Canterbury later looked in control at 208 for four, but Central Districts took the second new ball as soon as it became available and made immediate in-roads.

Stead declared late in the day to ensure the Central Districts openers would face four overs, which they successfully negotiated as 10 runs were gathered before stumps were pulled.

Papps said the pitch was "doing a bit" all day so he had to be patient, with Central Districts bowling well.

- NZPA