Young Marlborough seamer Brent Hefford bowled Central Districts into a solid position against Northern Districts in Napier yesterday.
Hefford took five for 50 from 24 overs to restrict Northern, batting first after winning the toss, to 216.
Central were 20 without loss at stumps in their Shell Trophy match.
It was an encouraging day for Central following an eight-wicket, two-day thumping from Auckland last week.
Hefford's five-wicket bag in just his third first-class game was clearly the highlight.
The 22-year-old struck early with the wicket of Northern opener James Marshall, and dealt the visitors a double blow just before lunch with the dismissals of Mark Bailey and Grant Bradburn in the same over.
Northern went to the break at 94 for four, and that quickly became 95 for five when Andrew Schwass trapped Matthew Hart leg-before in the second over of the middle session.
Northern lost three wickets for just one run within 16 balls before Hamish Marshall and Joseph Yovich added 46 for the sixth wicket.
Hefford struck again with the removal of the second Marshall twin for 41 and, nine runs later, had Yovich caught behind for 31 to clinch his five-wicket bag and have Northern teetering at 150 for seven.
Northern battled through to 180 for eight at tea, lost Simon Doull soon after and had to rely on a 34-run partnership for the last wicket between Graeme Aldridge and Bruce Martin to reach the 200 mark.
- NZPA
Cricket: Central seamer cuts a swath through ND
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