KEY POINTS:
When the New Zealand selectors cast their eyes around the first class scene in search of openers for the forthcoming England tour, it would be interesting to know how long their gazes will linger on the name Tim McIntosh.
Had they been at Eden Park's outer oval yesterday
to witness the Auckland veteran's chanceless, undefeated 196, the answer to that would surely be: quite some time.
Having subdued the Canterbury attack in a grafting first session during which Auckland lost captain Richard Jones and Martin Guptil, McIntosh blossomed in the afternoon.
So straight was the tall left-hander's play that umpire Dennis Smith became one of his victims, collecting a ferocious straight drive on the ankle to prevent a certain boundary. Usually, however, there were no such obstacles to prevent McIntosh's sweetly struck drives reaching the boundary.
His first 50 runs were a study in patience and application, coming in 165 minutes and 129 balls. His second and third 50s were a masterclass in demolition.
He brought up his century by hoicking leg spinner Todd Astle over cow corner for six and passed 150 with a lofted straight drive over the fence off Ian Robertson. In between, he added lap-sweeps and a rare pull shot to what would have made a fantastic highlights package.
Had it been struck by another player, almost any other player, McIntosh's innings would surely have made the Black Caps selectors sit up and take note. But McIntosh has played many similar innings in his 11-season first class career.
Yesterday's knock was his 11th first class century. He has now equalled Jeff Crowe and Verdon Scott on Auckland's all-time list, and is one short of Trevor Franklin's record of 12 centuries for the province.
One century a season, however, which has been the norm for McIntosh, doesn't tend to earn an international call-up. His career average of a shade over 30 from 70 matches isn't startling either.
He does, however, possess a penchant for big hundreds. His debut century in 2000 was a knock of 182 against a Canterbury attack led by Shane Bond. Last season, he made a career-high 205 against Otago.
There are still hopes that, at 30, McIntosh may prove to be a late bloomer. Yesterday's innings will have breathed new life into those hopes. It also carried Auckland to a position of some strength, helping them close on 342/5.
After back-to-back defeats, it will be a welcome respite for a team that his slipped from top of the State Championship ladder to third in the post-Christmas phase of the competition.
A good day for Auckland could have been considerably better had McIntosh received better support from the rest of their top order. Gareth Hopkins produced another tidy knock of 45 in a fourth-wicket stand of 89, while Andrew de Boorder made a stylish 32 before edging a wide long-hop from Leighton Burtt to keeper Kruger van Wyk.
Colin de Grandholme was at the crease on nine at the close.
* Wellington, guaranteed two points from their first innings lead, have moved level with competition leaders Canterbury on 26 points after the first day of their match against Central Districts in Palmerston North yesterday.
In reply to Central's first innings 150, Wellington, playing this home match at Fitzherbert Park, were 163 for five at stumps with BJ Crooks (25) and Dewayne Bowden (6) not out.
Daniel Flynn scored a century to match Otago counterpart Neil Broom and give Northern Districts an edge.
Flynn was unbeaten on 101 at stumps on day two at Hamilton's Seddon Park, with his team in a strong position at 260 for four.
Earlier, Otago were felled for 327, Broom finally dismissed for a career-best 150.
- ADDITIONAL REPORTING: NZPA