Cricket: Young blasts Cantabs to strong footing

Andrew de Boorder. Photo / Getty Images

Test wicketkeeper Reece Young scored his first ton for his new major association - his sixth first-class hundred in total - as Canterbury reached 344 for six at stumps on the opening day of their fourth round Plunket Shield cricket match against Otago at Queenstown yesterday.

Young, who made his test debut against Pakistan in Hamilton last month, picked up where he left off at domestic level, continuing his rise as a batsman by blasting 17 fours in a 140-ball 117 at the Queenstown Events Centre.

Opener Michael Papps provided the early platform after the visitors were sent in to bat, scoring 95 at a reasonable clip before Young and allrounder Andy Ellis combined for a 138-run partnership, a record for the sixth wicket for all teams this summer and the biggest sixth-wicket stand at the picturesque ground at Frankton, just east of Queenstown.

At Wellington, New Zealand international Andy McKay completed a handy day's work in his return to first class cricket after injury, taking three for 74 from 21 overs as Wellington restricted Auckland to 301 for eight at stumps on the first day.

Left-armer McKay claimed three top order scalps and former international Mark Gillespie chipped in with two as the hosts took early advantage of their decision to bowl first at the Basin Reserve, with Auckland reduced to 133 for five soon after lunch.

But a fighting captain's knock from No 3 Andrew Boorder, who scored his second first-class hundred before being dismissed for 124, and an impressive 67 from 20-year-old Jimmy Neesham, in his second first-class match, pulled the visitors out of trouble.

- NZPA