Cricket: Northern knocked over by Henry

Matt Henry starred against Northern Districts. Photo / Getty Images

Plunket Shield leaders Northern Districts' poor record at Seddon Park in Hamilton looks likely to continue after a tough first day against Canterbury today.

Northern, who led the national four-day competition by three points over Auckland going in to the fourth round, haven't won on their unofficial home ground since 2002.

Canterbury won the toss and elected to bowl against Northern and the choice to take the ball paid off as they rolled the home side over for 169, which was only helped along by a 10th-wicket partnership of 25 between Graeme Aldridge and Jimmy Baker.

Rookie Cantabrian Matt Henry claimed career-best figures of 5-21 as the 19-year-old tore through the Northern batting line-up, while Willie Lonsdale also claimed 3-38.

Overseas import Hamish Marshall top-scored with 37, while veteran all-rounder Joey Yovich contributed 36 from the unfamiliar position of opening the batting.

Aldridge's late-innings hitting saw him rack up 30 from 31 balls, which in the context of the game was vital.

Canterbury began steadily, but finished the day at 97-4 with Tom Latham unbeaten at the crease with Andrew Ellis, as former international Brent Arnel picked up two wickets.

At the Basin Reserve in Wellington, Otago paceman Neil Wagner again proved to be a burden for the men from the capital.

Last summer the South African-born left-armer tore Wellington to shreds in Queenstown when he claimed five wickets in an over and although there was nothing as outlandish at the Basin today, he did claim six wickets as Wellington closed the day on 292-9.

The home side were reeling at 159-7 before Luke Woodcock (84) and Jeetan Patel (70 not out) put on 118 for the eighth wicket to add some credibility to the scorecard.

Wellington's top order struggled to deal with Wagner, who finished the day with 6-86 from 24 overs, while Otago gloveman Derek de Boorder was busy behind the stumps as he gobbled up for four catches.

James Franklin continued his strong summer with 50 from No 5, although Michael Papps' transfer to Wellington continued to produced mixed results as he was dismissed without scoring.

It was the second duck in seven innings for his new province, although he has managed two half centuries since he departed from Canterbury.

In Auckland, Central Districts lost the coin flip and were asked to bat by the home side at Colin Maiden Park and made solid, although not spectacular progress, with the willow.

All bar one of the Central batsmen made double figures, but only wicketkeeper Kruger van Wyk and big hitting all-rounder Kieran Noema-Barnett kicked on past 50.

Van Wyk's 54 was the 31-year-old's 25th first-class half century, while Noema-Barnett passed the half-century mark for the first time in the four-day game and at the close of play was unbeaten on 78.

Spinner Marty Kain remained not out on 31 and the pair will want to kick on the side's total towards 400 tomorrow. (weds)

Michael Bates and Dean Bartlett each claimed three wickets for Auckland.