Cricket: Styris' century leaves Northern in command

Northern Districts took a firm grip on their match against Otago in Hamilton yesterday, thanks to a strong batting display on the second day of the penultimate round of the domestic first-class championship.

Replying to bottom-placed Otago's meagre first innings of 118, Northern yesterday reached 320 for five at stumps in the State Championship-sponsored game.

The innings revolved around allrounder Scott Styris who hit an unbeaten 127 off just 151 balls. It was his second first-class century.

After the loss of James Marshall and Matthew Hart inside the first six overs, Northern recovered through a third-wicket stand of 103 between Grant Robinson and Michael Parlane.

Both departed in close order, Robinson for 45 and Parlane for 65, leaving the home side 129 for four.

One-day international Styris put paid to any hopes Otago had of slicing through the middle order.

He shared a 112-run stand in 24 overs with Hamish Marshall (43) and then dominated an unbroken stand of 79 with captain Robbie Hart (20 not out).

Styris clubbed 10 fours and five sixes in his innings.

Kerry Walmsley was Otago's best bowler with two for 47 from 25 overs.

Walmsley also featured in a controversial end to the day. He thought he had Hart caught behind in the final over. A concerted appeal was turned down by umpire Mike George.

On the next ball, Hart pulled away from the batting crease at the last moment and had his leg stump hit by Walmsley's delivery. The Otago side again believed Hart was out, but after consulting square-leg umpire Doug Cowie, George ruled the delivery as a dead ball.

The visitors' disappointment was obvious and skipper Craig Cumming was deep in conversation with George and Cowie as they left the field.

* Auckland teenager Rob Nicol hit a fine century to pull his team out of trouble on the second day of their game against Canterbury at the Village Green in Christchurch.

Nicol, 18, came in with Auckland at 68 for four on Monday, and yesterday was last man out for 104 as Auckland reached 272. It was Nicol's second first-class hundred in just his ninth game.

Auckland's aim of retaining joint leadership of the competition with Wellington would have been sorely tested had Nicol and one-day international allrounder Andre Adams not shared a 133-run stand for the eighth wicket.

Adams cracked 72 in 93 balls, including 12 fours. Nicol batted almost 4 1/2 hours, faced 213 balls and hit 12 fours and a six.

At stumps, Canterbury at 150 for two were well placed to chase first innings points. Michael Papps and Michael McKenzie were unbeaten on 64 and 29 respectively.

* Central Districts secured a first-innings lead and ended in a strong position on day two of their match against Wellington at McLean Park in Napier.

Englishman Ben Smith carried Central through to 114 for three - an overall lead of 152 in a game they must win to stay in title contention.

After a first innings failure, test reject Mathew Sinclair played some magnificent shots in reaching 30 at a run-a-ball rate. But paceman Andrew Penn then tied Sinclair down and dismissed him for 41.

Smith, who ended 30 not out, and Glen Sulzberger steered Central through a period of deteriorating light to the end of the day's play.

Earlier, Wellington, 21 for two overnight, reached 180 in reply to Central's first innings of 218.

Mark Jefferson, who hit nine fours in his 53, and James Franklin (22) added 76 for the seventh wicket to save the visitors from a big first innings deficit.

- NZPA