Central Districts fought back strongly against league leaders Canterbury thanks to an unbeaten double hundred from Greg Hay in Rangiora yesterday.
Resuming day three of their Plunket Shield fixture at 217-5 on the Mainpower Oval, the Stags needed a partnership from middle order batsman Hay, who had compiled 71 runs the previous day, and former Black Cap wicket keeper Kruger van Wyk who started day three on 30 runs.
The Wizards struggled to dismiss the overnight pair during the morning session, before van Wyk was dismissed by fast bowler Hamish Bennett for 58.
But Hay, a veteran of 26 first class matches, provided another marathon batting display from a New Zealand batsman, after Black Cap captain Brendon McCullum completed his triple century in Wellington against India.
The 29-year-old Hay scored 202 from 412 balls, an effort lasting 527 minutes and including 16 boundaries. It was his fifth first class hundred, comfortably eclipsing his previous highest score of 164 not out.