Free-scoring Ingram bags yet another super century

HAMISH BIDWELL
There are times at four-day matches where the proceedings are so tedious, you wonder what on earth you'll find to write about.
Not so yesterday, as we enjoyed a bit of everything on day one of Central Districts' State Championship match against Canterbury at McLean Park. There was triumph, heartache, history and even a bold prediction for the future in a close of play interview.
Having won the toss and batted, the Stags finished at 375 for six, with Peter Ingram scoring his fourth first-class hundred of the season. His accomplished innings took his aggregate for the four-day campaign to 616, at an average of 61.6. The stats are even better against Canterbury.
Yesterday's was his third century on the trot, following on from the hundreds he scored in each innings of the match at the Village Green in Christchurch back in December. That gives him the princely sum of 444 runs, at 222, against the red and blacks this summer.
So while his was another day to celebrate, it was bittersweet for Hawke's Bay captain Brad Patton. Making his long-awaited first-class debut, the left-hander lasted just eight balls, before umpire Derek Walker adjudged him leg before to Hamish Bennett for nought. It didn't look a great shout and Patton could be justified in thinking cricket is a cruel game.
But if his introduction to the big time didn't follow the Boy's Own script, then Corey Anderson's did. At just 16 years and 89 days, he became the eighth-youngest player to appear in New Zealand first-class cricket and celebrated his debut by bowling Black Caps' opener Jamie How for 34. If you recognise the Christchurch Boys' High School pupil's name, it may be because he's already represented New Zealand at under-19 level, but more likely it's his delivery of 138km/h, which made him the top qualifier for the recent National Bank Fast Bowling Challenge.
At stumps, SportToday caught up with Ingram to talk about his golden summer, CD's levels of motivation and the direction this game may go in.
"The first 15 overs were pretty tough today. They bowled pretty well and I knew that if I could get through that period, which I haven't done for the last few innings, then I should be right," Ingram said.
"Like, with Jimmy (How) that was our first partnership of any substance for seven bats now, so it was pretty good to get more than 15 together, because one of us has tended to be out in the first over basically."
And is that because, with nothing to play for, their desire has waned a little?
"No, there hasn't been one day when the team have come out and not wanted to do well. We've trained so hard to be here and we all want to do well and it's been hard for the last few games," he said.
"There's been more words said about doing well, both this morning and last night, than ever. There's been a bit of hurt done to our pride and we're determined to do well."
Ingram said six down was probably one too many for his team, but he was still confident the Stags could post a competitive total today.
"If we can get to 500, that will give us a good base to attack with the new ball and then Schawsie (Robbie Schaw) is going to do a lot of bowling.
"He bowled brilliantly up in Auckland and he's going to be a great player, not only for us, but New Zealand. Seriously, he's going to be a big player for us."