Canterbury has CD on the ropes

Christchurch
Canterbury batsman Shanan Stewart, who has become accustomed to making the most of his irregular representative cricket opportunities, did not let his latest chance go by at the Village Green here yesterday.
Stewart scored a highly impressive 149 ? his maiden first-class century ? as Canterbury secured a powerful position entering the final day of their State Championship match against Central Districts.
After leading by 65 runs on the first innings, Canterbury left Central Districts a daunting winning target of 466.
By stumps Central were struggling at 52 for two.
It was with as much relief as elation that Stewart, 22, raised his bat to acknowledge the applause of his teammates as he reached three figures for the first time in a 22-match career spread over four seasons.
"It's been a few too many games coming," Stewart said.
"I feel I've let myself down, getting out in the 60s and 70s. Today I actually carried on which is great and hopefully I've set us up in a good position."
Stewart has had to be content with moving up and down the order to fill gaps, and move in and out of the team to accommodate Canterbury's Black Caps.
"For a start I opened because that was the only position available in the side and I had a bit of success. I prefer opening in the one-day game but not in the four-dayers because I'm a wee bit too loose sometimes," he said.
"Obviously, when the Black Caps come in it's pretty hard to get into the side, especially because they are all batters. It's disappointing not playing."
Today Stewart batted at No 4, after Michael Papps failed to build on a promising 30 not out overnight. Stewart got into his stride as his captain, Peter Fulton, went within 14 runs of becoming only the third Canterbury player to score a century in both innings of a first-class fixture.
Fulton and Stewart put on 126 runs for the third wicket in 108 minutes before Fulton fell to a catch on the long-on boundary.
Stewart then shared a 121-run partnership with Gary Stead, the experienced Stead shepherding his Riccarton club-mate through to his century.
Stewart felt he had started better in the first innings on Friday, when he was cruelly run out for 35 by a deflection from the bowler's hand. But once into his rhythm, and having survived a stumping chance on 47 and a slips catch at 58, he moved to his century in 214min from 171 balls, with 13 fours.
With the declaration looming, Stewart celebrated by hitting spinner Glen Sulzberger for two sixes over long-on and scored his last 49 runs off 42 balls. It took a smart catch by Jamie How at second slip to get rid of him.
Fulton dawdled for 72 deliveries over his first nine runs, then hammered another 58 off 42 balls. - NZPA