Cricket: Styris plunders Otago with double ton

Northern Districts allrounder Scott Styris recorded the association's highest individual score with a stunning 212 not out on the third day of their match against Otago in Hamilton yesterday.

Styris passed the previous mark of 211 held by former England international Graeme Hick at WestpacTrust Park as Northern continued their pursuit for outright points in the penultimate round of the State Championship.

Styris massacred the Otago bowling line-up in an innings which started in the second session on Tuesday and ended when he got a single just before midday yesterday with Northern's declaration at 460 for seven, a lead of 342.

Hick scored the previous highest total away to Auckland in the 1988-89 season.

Styris became just the third Northern player to register a double-century. David White was the other with 209 against Central Districts in Hamilton during the 1985-86 season.

Styris plundered 14 fours and 10 sixes in his 341-minute stay that comprised 234 deliveries and showed little respect for any of the seven Otago bowlers used.

He and skipper Robbie Hart (66 from 182 balls) put on 191 for the sixth wicket, a record against any association, beating the previous best of 180 against Canterbury in Hamilton in 1992-93 by Shane Thomson and Matthew Hart.

The pair took Northern from 241 for five to 432 before Hart was trapped leg-before by offspinner Nathan Morland.

The Northern bowlers had immediate success before lunch when Brendon McCullum's miserable form continued.

A yorker from Graeme Aldridge struck McCullum on the foot and he hobbled off after being given out leg-before by umpire Mike George.

However, stubborn knocks from fellow opener Chris Gaffaney (56), skipper Craig Cumming (74 not out) and Justin Sheed (39 not out) gave Otago some hope that they may yet salvage a draw as they finished the day at 176 for two, a deficit of 166.

* The Canterbury-Auckland match in Christchurch is set for an exciting finish.

Trailing by 32 on the first innings following a Canterbury declaration, Auckland fought back for a lead of 143 with six wickets standing when play resumes this morning.

Tall left-hander Tim McIntosh is on 80 and Rob Nicol has 10.

Test reject Paul Wiseman captured three of the four wickets in a lengthy spell.

For Canterbury, Michael Papps was in great form with an unbeaten 140.

Canterbury must win to stay in the hunt for the championship, while Auckland will play a possible title-deciding match against Wellington next week.

* Central Districts gained the upper hand yesterday in their match with Wellington in Napier.

Central set Wellington a victory target of 320 and at stumps, the visitors were struggling at 71 for four.

Resuming at 114 for three in their second innings, Central went on to score 281, the highlights of which were a fighting 64 by Englishman Ben Smith and a fine 42 by Jacob Oram.

Smith, 30 overnight, became the first Central batsman to reach the 500-run mark this season. He hit eight boundaries in a three-hour knock to give the home side a solid foundation.

- NZPA