Cricket: Unheralded Stewart scores maiden first-class ton

Canterbury batsman Shanan Stewart made the most of his latest representative opportunity at the Village Green in Christchurch yesterday.

Stewart scored an impressive 149 - his maiden first-class century - as Canterbury secured a powerful position entering the final day of their State Championship match against Central Districts.

After leading by 65 runs on the first innings, Canterbury left Central Districts a daunting target of 466 for the win.

By stumps Central were struggling at 52 for two.

It was as much with relief as elation that Stewart, 22, raised his bat to acknowledge his first ton in a 22-match first-class career spread over four seasons.

"It's been a few too many games coming," Stewart said. "I feel I've let myself down, getting out in the 60s and 70s. Today I actually carried on, which is great, and hopefully I've set us up in a good position."

Stewart has had to be content moving up and down the order and in and out of the team to accommodate Canterbury's internationals.

"For a start I opened because that was the only position available in the side and I had a bit of success. I prefer opening in the one-day game but not in the four-dayers because I'm a wee bit too loose sometimes," he said.

Yesterday Stewart batted at No 4, after Michael Papps failed to build on a promising 30 not out overnight. Stewart got into his stride as his captain, Peter Fulton, went within 14 runs of becoming only the third Canterbury player to score a century in both innings of a first-class fixture.

Fulton and Stewart put on 126 runs for the third wicket before Fulton fell to a catch on the long-on boundary.

Stewart then shared a 121-run partnership with Gary Stead, the experienced Stead shepherding his Riccarton club-mate through to his century.

Stewart felt he had started better in the first innings on Friday, when he was run out for 35 by a deflection from the bowler. But once into his rhythm, and having survived a stumping on 47 and a slips catch at 58, he moved to his century in 214 minutes from 171 balls, with 13 fours.

With the declaration looming, Stewart hit spinner Glen Sulzberger for two sixes over long-on and scored his last 49 runs off 42 balls. It took a smart catch by Jamie How at second slip to get rid of him.

* Teenagers Brad Wilson and Anton Devcich propelled Northern Districts to a first innings lead in their debut first class outings against Otago at Gisborne yesterday.

Wilson, 19, scored 96 runs and No 9 batsman Devcich, also 19, batted on brilliantly early in the third day yesterday to reach an unbeaten 94 before he ran out of partners at Harry Barker Reserve.

However, his efforts were enough to lift Northern's first innings from 281 for eight overnight to 368 and a first innings lead of 47. That advantage looked unlikely when the hosts collapsed to 53 for five on Saturday.

Northern stayed on top as Otago reached 187 for five by stumps for a lead of 140, with five wickets in hand and a day to play.

Opener Craig Cumming was left hanging unbeaten on 99 and shapes as a crucial figure if Northern are to be denied.

His side had slumped to 62 for four but a 114-run partnership with Gareth Hopkins (42) gave the visitors a lifeline.

Earlier Devcich, who began the day on 43, shared a crucial 96-run ninth-wicket partnership with Graeme Aldridge (29).

Northern Districts captain Matt Hart described the match as a war of attrition.

"We picked early wickets but it is hard work out there," he said.

"We have done a lot of hard graft to pick up five wickets and hopefully luck will come our way on the fourth day."

- NZPA