Cricket: Opener says he is battling, despite disciplined century

PAARL - Mark Richardson racked up his 11th first-class century yesterday and promptly declared that he was struggling for form.

The New Zealand test opener grafted for 396 minutes over his unbeaten 118 as the Kiwis experienced a day of mixed fortunes against Boland.

At stumps, the tourists were 273 for five.

While many of the batsmen were the authors of their own misfortune, Richardson again demonstrated the virtues of patience and discipline in what was his first bat since rejoining the squad on Friday.

"I felt a bit out of condition, but worked on keeping to my pre-ball routine, which made the day go faster," he said.

The 29-year-old left-hander apparently had not been enjoying his time back in Otago, where he was getting caught up in Max plans, one-day club games, and some fairly chilly Dunedin spring weather.

With that in mind, he was relieved to be back playing for New Zealand and preparing for next week's first test against South Africa, even though yesterday's hot midday temperatures induced bouts of cramps in both legs.

Richardson, whose two previous centuries have comprised a score of 306 against Zimbabwe A in September and a double-century against Sussex during the winter tour, brought up the milestone in 333 minutes off 255 balls, playing cautiously and striking eight boundaries in the process.

He began his innings with a gorgeous shot off his pads for four, and continued to look handy on the leg-side throughout the innings, although his 10 boundaries (in total) were spread well around the wicket.

There was only one genuine blemish, when he was dropped at mid-on while on 33.

The former Aucklander said afterwards there were few things dominating his thoughts more than the looming date against Allan Donald, Shaun Pollock and Co.

"I haven't thought about much else to be honest," he said. "It's going to be a huge challenge - right up there with the Aussie seam attack, and I'm dead keen to come out of it knowing I can make the grade."

Coach David Trist said Richardson's innings was a lesson in discipline and sound batsmanship.

"He not only batted through sessions, he showed excellent discipline and concentration along the way," Trist said.

Some of the other batsman may have been disappointed in the way they departed on the flat and uneventful Boland Park pitch.

In contrast to previous seasons when it was deemed either too dangerous (against the 1994-95 New Zealanders) or too boring (against the 1995-96 English), yesterday's track was fairly evenly paced and contained reasonably consistent bounce.

However, while Richardson was able to apply himself, his partners were unable to emulate his deeds and New Zealand only partly cashed in on their opportunity.

Craig Spearman was defeated by left-armer Neil Carter's angle, Mathew Sinclair crashed 13 boundaries in a quickfire 86 before holing out in the deep, and Craig McMillan - needing a long bat after a lean run in the ODI series - was out to the seventh ball he faced.

Hamish Marshall, playing his first game for New Zealand, looked tidy if not dominant before being undone by the second new ball, while Adam Parore perished after top-edging an attempted hook-shot.

Attention will now focus on New Zealand's inexperienced attack, which received a good insight into how to best bowl on the pitch by paceman Carter.

Trist suggested Carter's ability to bowl a demanding length, taking full advantage of any variations in bounce, was a strategy the New Zealanders would do well to employ.