ANENDRA SINGH
If there's ever a time to impress anyone with the bat or ball then it's the four-day State Championship match in progress in Hamilton.
While it'll be just another day on the paddock for the Northern Districts team, the same cannot be said of Central Districts players at Seddon Park today on the final day.
With Knights coach Andy Moles appointed Black Caps coach this week, the Stags will be mindful he's the man they have to persuade if they are to go on to higher honours this season.
Opener Peter Ingram certainly did yesterday with a swashbuckling 247, eclipsing current skipper Mathew Sinclair's record by four runs as the Stags posted a first-innings total of 479 for nine declared on the third day of the match.
Grafting his eighth first-class ton, Ingram was on 144 when play resumed at 201 for two before he rewrote the record books, relegating Sinclair's unbeaten 243 in the 2007-08 season against Otago.
In a record partnership of 264, Ingram and Sinclair frustrated the Knights bowlers as Sinclair lived up to his pre-season prediction of leading by example and helping pave the way for youngsters such as George Worker and Doug Bracewell to realise their ambition of securing a CD berth before embarking on any tours of duty for the Black Caps.
It's a dream start as well for former English international and new CD coach Dermot Reeve, who is an advocate of provincial teams preparing players first and foremost to represent their country.
Said a delighted Sinclair: "It's fantastic to be a part of what he's done. All that hard work he's done in winter is now paying off and he's definitely pushing for a claim."
But Sinclair felt Ingram's patience, commitment and smartness should secure him a spot at least in the New Zealand A side for the upcoming England A tour of New Zealand.
"The biggest thing for Peter is that he has scored well a lot of times for the past few digs and shown control and yes, definitely, Moles has been watching him too," said Sinclair, happy that for him and Reeve the nurturing process appeared to be working.
Sinclair said if given the opportunity, of course, he would represent his country once more if the new Caps coach had him in the equation.
While neither Ingram nor Sinclair are spring chickens, their third-wicket accomplishment against allcomers must have Moles thinking about how he can change the fortunes of the Caps who host the West Indies on returning from the second test match against the Australians across the ditch. The Indians will follow in the new year.
While Sinclair didn't feature in outgoing coach John Bracewell's matrix, the unwanted Caps batsman has shown he still hasn't lost his touch. While he has savoured the need for him to step up to an elite level, it hasn't been fully digested.
Nevertheless, yesterday's limelight belonged to Ingram whose often patient innings came to a close after a little more than 7 1/2 hours on the crease when he feathered a ball to slip after prodding at a delivery from left-armer Bruce Martin.
Right-hander Ingram had faced 356 deliveries, smashing 31 boundaries and heaving four of them over the ropes in his memorable innings.
The 30-year-old parted ways with Sinclair when the skipper fell victim to seamer Trent Boult after feasting off spinner Martin in the 90s on the way to his ton.
Already in arrears of 154 runs from their first innings, the Knights were on 83 for two when the bails were lifted with Michael Parlane's 41 runs and reserve wicketkeeper/batsman BJ Watling's educated 33 the foundation of the hosts' efforts to hang in there to deny CD an outright victory.
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