Cricket: Spearman delighted at perfect timing

POTCHEFSTROOM - Craig Spearman could hardly have timed his entrance any better. Or any later, for that matter.

The 28-year-old New Zealand cricketer almost single-handedly erased one of the test side's major concerns at the weekend when he batted for four hours to post a long-overdue century in the tour match against North-West.

At stumps yesterday, New Zealand were 280-6 and North-West had lost two wickets without bothering the scorers.

The innings was a triumph for Spearman, for he has had a lean trot. But it was also a huge relief for the touring side, who square off against South Africa's potent pace battery in the first test starting on Friday.

Spearman, who will open the batting in the absence of Matt Horne, was playing in just his third first-class match of the tour and was desperate to find some form before facing Allan Donald and Co at Bloemfontein, and to end his run of low scores.

His 100 yesterday morning was his first century in 20 months, dating back to March 1999 when he scored 134 for Central Districts against Northern Districts at Wanganui.

With Horne sidelined by injury and New Zealand without any other opening options, Spearman has been in the curious position of being almost guaranteed a test place as Mark Richardson's partner - regardless of his form.

Before yesterday, he had been dismissed cheaply in the second test against Zimbabwe and, in his only other first-class opportunity on tour, failed to impress in either innings at Paarl.

Spearman said the milestone - his seventh first-class century - was important for his own peace of mind and useful because of the proximity of the test match.

"I really wanted to do well in the two practice matches," he said. "But I didn't do much in Paarl, which put the onus on this game.

"The plan was to get started, and if I got a reasonable beginning, to keep going.

"I would have been very disappointed had I got out for 30 or 40, so in that regard I'm very pleased."

The problem for Spearman on this tour has not been the lack of success as much as the lack of opportunities. The Central Districts' captain has played only 16 days of cricket out of a potential 78.

He made a decent fist of batting at No 3 in India last year, but was then promoted to open the batting against the West Indies, Australia and, later on, Zimbabwe, without any success.

Yesterday's century was apparently modelled on the back of a minimalist theory, with Spearman determined to make bowlers play to his strengths, rather than vice versa.

"I've decided to restrict myself to only a few shots in order to make the bowlers come to me," he said after his innings, which lasted 241 minutes, 196 balls and included 14 fours and a six.

"It's difficult when you're not playing much, just practising in the nets, so it feels good to score well. After having so many different breaks you almost have to get used to playing all over again."

Spearman lived up to his game plan against North-West, sitting on the back foot and waiting for anything short and wide, while treating fuller-pitch deliveries with caution.

He had support from Nathan Astle, who looked in good touch before shouldering arms and being bowled on 63, as New Zealand proceeded through to their declaration.

That left the tourists just 4.5 overs to bowl before bad light brought about a premature close, with Shayne O'Connor picking up the two wickets, both caught at first slip.