Cricket: Teenager hits super century

By BOB PEARCE

Auckland teenager Rob Nicol scored his maiden first-class century as he steered his team to a 68-run first-innings lead over Otago at Colin Maiden Park yesterday.

The 18-year-old, who played for the New Zealand under-19 team this year, was 106 not out at stumps on the second day of the match, with Auckland 309 for eight in reply to Otago's 241.

The youngster showed a maturity beyond his years, coming to the wicket as Auckland stuttered at 123 for four.

He added 53 with the experienced Mark Richardson, who scored exactly 100 before being caught close in off offspinner Nathan Morland, and then shared a 110-run partnership with captain Brooke Walker, who got 27.

It took Nicol more than five hours to complete his century with a pull to midwicket, one of 15 fours all round the wicket.

He gave only one sharp chance in his 70s and showed rare judgment over which balls to attack on a worn pitch which allowed Morland to keep two close fielders in front of the bat.

It was Nicol's second innings-saving effort this year. He scored 74 against Canterbury in a 153-run partnership with Reece Young when Auckland's first innings was in tatters.

Yesterday, the Aucklanders had looked to be cantering to first-innings points when Richardson and Tim McIntosh put on 94 for the first wicket.

But Otago, and particularly Craig Pryor, had other ideas. Morland removed McIntosh leg before and then Pryor found movement in the pitch to take three wickets in 24 balls, all caught by wicketkeeper Marty Croy.

Richardson brought up his 100 with 17 fours off 175 balls and it was a surprise when he was deceived by Morland soon after.

The Otago bowlers stuck to their task and at no stage did the batsmen get on top, even when Nicol and Walker were grinding out their 191-minute partnership.

Auckland will be keen to build their lead as much as possible because Aaron Barnes and Matt Horne are hobbling on injured ankles.* Canterbury hold the upper hand going into the third day of their match against Wellington at the Basin Reserve.

The visitors took first innings points when they reached 193, in reply to Wellington's 182. The runs came largely through the efforts of Michael Papps and captain Gary Stead, who shared a 107-run fourth-wicket stand.

Papps' 68 took a shade under four hours and the reliable Stead, with 52, was the only other player to pass 10.

Wellington limped to 49 for three at stumps - an overall lead of just 38 - and have plenty of work to do to post a large fourth innings target for Canterbury.