Cricket: Papps leads fight back

Michael Papps again demonstrated his batting qualities as Canterbury battled back towards parity with Wellington in Rangiora yesterday.

At stumps on the second day Papps was unbeaten on 59, the backbone of Canterbury's 145 for three, with the imposing Wellington total of 399 still a distant target.

There were eight boundaries in Papps' half-century, and he seldom put a foot wrong, although the circumstances dictated that he had to fight for most of his 199 minutes at the crease.

Papps had faced 159 balls for his 59.

Wellington seamers Andrew Penn and Iain O'Brien, diligently backed by medium-pacer Matthew Walker, put the Canterbury top order through a searching test with their accuracy.

In one over before lunch and 130 minutes to tea, Canterbury ground their way to 69 for one after the loss of Robbie Frew's wicket.

Captain Gary Stead was in fine touch to reach 47 before Penn tempted him into offering a catch to gully at the start of the final session.

After resuming at 299 for six, Wellington had Mark Jefferson to thank for reaching their daunting total.

Jefferson, resuming on nine, was expected to play a supporting role for the last remaining specialist batsman, Neal Parlane, who had been 71 overnight.

But Parlane managed just one scoring shot from 40 balls before being dismissed, and Jefferson was left in charge of the tailenders.

He was last out, for 53, after sharing useful partnerships with Penn, Jeetan Patel and O'Brien.

The highlights of the innings were the century by former New Zealand opener Matthew Bell, 55 by Richard Jones and Neal Parlane's 75.

Bell and Jones shared an opening partnership of 124.

- NZPA