Cricket: Stewart on course for century

Shanan Stewart. Photo / Christchurch Star

Shanan Stewart has his first century of the season in his sights after steering Canterbury to 298 for six with 81 not out on the first day of the Plunket Shield game at Colin Maiden Park yesterday.

The 28-year-old in his 10th season for Canterbury was out for 99 this month against Wellington when he and Reece Young put on 167 to pave the way for a comeback victory.

The same pair had a brisk partnership of 103 for the fifth wicket yesterday before Young was dismissed for 45.

But Stewart, who hit spinner Bruce Martin for two big sixes over mid-on, weathered the second new ball and survived to chase his century this morning.

Auckland won the toss and invited Canterbury to bat on a sunny autumn day with a fast outfield despite heavy weekend rain. Auckland left out Colin Munro from their 12 and Canterbury omitted Ryan McCone.

Michael Papps went cheaply but former Aucklander Rob Nicol and captain Peter Fulton added 82 off 121 balls before Fulton was well caught at slip by Tim McIntosh off spinner Martin for 36 with six fours.

At lunch Canterbury were 116 for two and Nicol and Dean Brownlie kept up the pressure on Auckland before both fell to the lively medium pace of Colin de Grandhomme. Nicol was leg before for 61 off 117 balls with seven fours and Brownlie was caught in the slips for 31, including five fours.

Stewart and Young's partnership had Canterbury firmly in control and it was something of a surprise when Young, after being dropped on 44, was caught at the wicket off Greg Todd one run later.

The new ball slowed the scoring but the only wicket to fall was Andrew Ellis, brilliantly caught by wicketkeeper Gareth Hopkins diving to his right off Michael Bates.

Auckland used six bowlers, with Bates and de Grandhomme both taking two wickets. There were solid efforts by Chris and Bruce Martin and Todd proved very economical when Canterbury threatened to become dominant.

The pitch looks full of runs and Auckland will be hoping to come out of the batting doldrums when they have their turn.

At Hamilton's Seddon Park, former international Aaron Redmond provided the glue to hold Otago together.

The 31-year-old fronted with an invaluable 122 as Otago took their time in reaching 264 for six on the first day of the four-day fixture against Northern Districts.

Redmond's first century of the season, and the ninth of his first-class career, occupied 362 minutes as fifth-placed Otago employed patience and watchful defence against a Northern Districts bowling attack used to getting its own way.

Peter Ingram, another international discard, was his normal fluent self in scoring 111 not out for Central Districts against Wellington at the Basin Reserve in the capital.

After a delayed start until 2pm caused by overnight rain, Central ended the shortened day at 226 for four, with Ingram the clear standout as his 15th first-class ton took him just 132 balls in less than three hours during an innings studded with 13 fours and one six.

Additional reporting: NZPA