Cricket: Vincent smacks century on way to record score

Lou Vincent celebrates his century against Wellington at Colin Maiden Park yesterday. Photo / Dean Purcell

Lou Vincent smashed an unbeaten 105 as Auckland scored a record-breaking 229 for three to beat Wellington by 68 runs in a Twenty20 game at Colin Maiden Park yesterday.

Auckland's total surpassed Central Districts' 224 against Wellington in the 2007/08 season.

The partnership of 149 off 76 balls between Vincent and fellow opener Martin Guptill eclipsed last season's record 140 against Canterbury by Otago's Nathan McCullum and Dimitri Mascarenhas.

Vincent's century, also a domestic record, came off 60 balls with eight fours and six sixes.

Chasing a miracle reply, Wellington reached 161 for eight wickets, thanks largely to opener Neal Parlane, who hit 85 before being sixth man out.

The Auckland innings started slowly with only a scampered single off James Franklin's first over.

But that was as good as it got for the Wellington bowlers as Vincent and Guptill found their measure.

They raced to 50 off 27 balls but both were given let-offs. First Franklin put down a difficult chance from Guptill off Dewayne Bowden's second over. From the next ball, Jeetan Patel spilled a skied Vincent pull shot at square leg.

The Auckland pair needed no second bidding. Vincent reached 50 off 28 balls and Guptill needed one ball less. The Auckland 100 was up in the ninth over.

When Guptill was caught in the deep for 62 off 35 balls, Auckland were 149 with seven overs to go. There was time for 40 from Scott Styris off 22 balls before four byes completed the Auckland total with Vincent on 105.

Wellington began at a fierce pace but wickets kept falling as they chased the imposing total. Parlane raced to 50 off 25 balls but no one could stay with him.

When the stocky opener was caught in the deep by Vincent off Styris for 85, Wellington were 137 for six and the cause was lost. Parlane thumped six fours and five sixes off 50 balls.

Best of the Auckland bowlers were Daryl Tuffey with two for 26 and Roneel Hira with one for 23 from four overs of tight left-arm spin. The Auckland fielding was very sharp with Vincent contributing to the runout of danger man Franklin for three.

Wellington might have rued their decision to put Auckland in. By the closing stages of their innings the light was distinctly murky.

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Another Ross Taylor onslaught launched Central Districts back to the top of the championship table with a six-wicket victory over Canterbury in Timaru yesterday.

New Zealand's premier batsman continued his rich vein of form, smashing 53 off 27 balls to ensure Central cantered to their target of 163 with an over to spare.

Mathew Sinclair also fired, guiding the run chase home with an unbeaten 54 off 41 balls, including four fours and two sixes.

It saw Central reclaim the competition lead, two points clear of defending champions Otago, at the halfway stage.

Canterbury's total of 162 for five didn't appear enough on a good Aorangi Oval batting surface, although the hosts started well to reduce Central to 37 for two after five overs.

But with a few swats of his bat, Taylor put the issue beyond doubt as he peppered the boundaries with six fours and two sixes.

He and Sinclair added 88 off 8.3 overs for the fourth wicket, and when Taylor departed it was a healthy 125 for three in the 14th.

Allrounder Jacob Oram wasn't even required to bat.

Test paceman Chris Martin was the standout Canterbury bowler, taking two for 26 off four overs.

Sent in to bat, Canterbury had several handy contributors although no one cut loose like Taylor.

- additional reporting NZPA