Cricket: Sinclair underlines test match potential

Mathew Sinclair showed he is ready to help the Black Caps with their batting as he scored a defiant century in Central Districts' defeat by Auckland in the Plunket Shield game at Colin Maiden Park yesterday.

Sinclair made 129 in a total of 273 as Central Districts chased fruitlessly for 366 to make Auckland bat again after their mammoth 635 for six. He was eighth man out when the score was 261 and Auckland went on to win by an innings and 93 runs.

Central began a rain-punctuated last day at 119 for three with Sinclair on 32. He put on 134 with Brendon Diamanti, who made 57 batting with a broken nose damaged when he was hit in the face while fielding in the gully.

Sinclair survived a hard chance to gully before reaching his hundred off 173 balls. He fell to the second new ball, lbw to Dean Bartlett, after hitting 17 fours in a disciplined innings.

There was some support from wicketkeeper Bevan Griggs, top scorer with an unbeaten 65 in Central's disappointing first innings of 269. He made 23 before being caught at the wicket off leg-spinner Jeet Raval.

The new ball quickly wrapped up the innings as left-arm paceman Michael Bates took five for 71 and Bartlett three for 70.

Central came into the game with an outside chance of pressing Northern Districts for the shield but that has disappeared.

Despite the win Auckland remain bottom of the competition, but they could get out of the cellar with victory in their final game against Canterbury next week.

* Canterbury have ensured the competition will go the distance.

They beat Wellington by five wickets at Rangiora yesterday to give themselves the chance to overhaul leaders Northern Districts in the final round of matches next week.

Northern Districts remain on 44 points after Otago had the better of their drawn match in Whangarei.

Canterbury can pip Northern Districts for the title if they beat Auckland and Northern Districts earn no points against Central Districts.

Shanan Stewart and Dean Brownlie put on an unbeaten stand of 135 for the sixth wicket after Canterbury resumed on 45 for three.

Their progress was pedestrian in the first session and at 171 for five, after losing Peter Fulton for 77, the match hung in the balance before Stewart and Brownlie turned the tide.

Both were composed and controlled, with Stewart finishing 92 not out with 13 fours after 256 minutes, while Brownlie was the perfect foil on 74 not out, with 11 fours off 104 balls.

- ADDITIONAL REPORTING: NZPA