Cricket: Former internationals feel domestic heat

Kyle Mills tries to contain Central Districts at Colin Maiden Park yesterday. Photo / Richard Robinson

As New Zealand prepares to face Australia at the Gabba in the unusual position of not being completely written off, Central Districts provided a reminder of what went before.

After Auckland won the toss and sent CD in, they had an opportunity to bowl to three recent versions of a New Zealand opener.

Jamie How, Peter Ingram and Mathew Sinclair have all faced the Kookaburra for New Zealand and no doubt they would have enjoyed life more against the bowlers Brendon McCullum and Martin Guptill are about to face up to.

As it was, an attack including Michael Bates and Dean Bartlett was more than enough on a Colin Maiden Park wicket that looked full of runs. CD ended on 325, disappointing after so many had starts and failed to push on.

The three CD stalwarts, who have scored the bulk of that side's runs over recent seasons, were back in the hutch with just 72 runs on the board.

How was the first to depart for 12 when he left a ball from Bates to sail through to keeper Gareth Hopkins - a decent plan if it wasn't dead straight.

While Sinclair and Ingram would acknowledge that time is against them having another shot at the highest level, How, at 30, is probably nearing the peak of his powers. The right-hander is regarded highly in cricket circles, so his inability to convert opportunities at the highest level is an enduring mystery.

Ingram welcomed the arrival of Bartlett to the crease by spooning one over point for four, smashing him straight back over his head for another boundary, being dropped at mid-on by Kyle Mills and snicking one through the slips before being bowled for 39.

Sinclair, a middle-order batsman occasionally thrust into the opener's role for New Zealand, was far more sedate but just as impermanent, nicking out for just four.

Watching from second slip was Tim McIntosh, another to have tried and failed as a New Zealand opener. At 72-3 and CD's best behind them, he must have had visions of batting before tea, but some resistance from Carl Cachopa (33) and Ben Smith (36 from 101 balls) put paid to that.

Kruger van Wyk and Kieran Noema-Barnett continued the fightback. The little wicketkeeper batted beautifully for 54 and Noema-Barnett reined in his natural hitting game to finish the day unbeaten on 78.

Left-armer Bates was the pick of the Auckland bowlers with three wickets for 54 runs.

At Seddon Park in Hamilton, Plunket Shield leaders Northern Districts struggled against Canterbury. ND were put in to bat and rolled for 169, a total boosted 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 he tore through the Northern batting line-up, while Willie Lonsdale claimed 3-38.

Canterbury began steadily, but finished the day at 97-4.

At the Basin Reserve in Wellington, Otago paceman Neil Wagner took six wickets as the hosts closed on 292-9.