Cricket: Papps leads way for Canterbury

Michael Papps scored an unbeaten 63 for Canterbury. File Photo / Richard Robinson

Canterbury continue to call the shots as they press for victory against Auckland in the first round of the Plunket Shield cricket competition at Christchurch.

The hosts will take a 277-run lead into the fourth and final day today after easing to 131 for three in their second innings, though they took 57 overs to get to that stage.

Michael Papps led the way for Canterbury with an unbeaten 63 while Peter Fulton added 56 but time was at a premium and whether they have forced the issue enough to set up an outright win today remains to be seen.

Auckland started the third day 285 runs behind and with just five wickets in hand, so they would be happy enough with their day's work and may even get a chance to win today should Canterbury set them a tantalising target.

A patient 101 from Anaru Kitchen, scored off 220 balls and in a tick over four hours, and a brisk 69 from New Zealand international Kyle Mills - the pair put on 115 for the sixth wicket - somewhat steadied the ship but after both departed, Canterbury had no problems mopping up the tail.

Canterbury opening bowler Ryan McCone, an uncontracted player who had taken just five wickets in his first four matches, was the standout, doubling his first-class wicket tally with five for 46 from 17 overs.

* Central Districts teased Wellington before Kruger van Dyk and Doug Bracewell got serious and steered the home team into a strong position at Napier.

Resuming yesterday at 35 for three, Central Districts slumped to 66 for six - an overall lead of just 153 - as Wellington pace bowler Andrew Lamb continued the onslaught he and Lee Edwards started at Nelson Park.

But a record seventh-wicket partnership of 187 between wicketkeeper van Dyk (95) and allrounder Bracewell (97) reinstated Central Districts' position of superiority.

The home team were eventually dismissed for 317, setting Wellington a challenging target of 405 to win.

* The Broom brothers have given the home team a fighting chance heading into the fourth and final day against Northern Districts at Queenstown.

Otago, who started the day at 4 for two and still trailing by 70 runs, slumped further into the mire at 33 for four, but that was the cue for the Broom brothers, Darren and New Zealand one-day international Neil, to engineer a remarkable turnaround.

The pair put on 252 runs for the fifth wicket, which easily bettered the previous best fifth-wicket mark for Otago against Northern Districts of 123 between Russell Hendry and Lance Pearson at Carisbrook in 1961/62, though they fell eight runs short of the Otago record for any wicket against Northern Districts, and 14 short of the best fifth-wicket partnership for Otago against any opposition.

- NZPA