Cricket: The other McCullum also shines

Otago wicketkeeper Derek de Boorder appeals successfully for a leg-side catch against his brother Andy. Photo / Paul Estcourt

Nathan McCullum proved the man for all seasons for Otago at Colin Maiden Park yesterday as younger brother Brendon defied the Indians in Hyderabad.

Nathan was involved in four dismissals as Otago rolled Auckland in their first innings of the Plunket Shield match for 298. Then, as the Southerners lost their openers for eight, he came in at number three, took a bouncer to the helmet but survived eight hostile overs as Otago tumbled to 12 for three at stumps.

The wickets were shared among Kyle Mills, Daryl Tuffey and Andre Adams, who had Neil Broom caught off the last ball of the day.

Auckland had to rely on their middle order to dig them out of a hole after another disappointing start.

Openers Jeet Raval and Brad Cachopa put on 35 before Cachopa fiddled with a short ball and was caught at point. Raval was caught behind 10 runs later for 31 and Greg Todd, playing against his old team, was leg before to the left-arm medium pace of Neil Wagner at the same total.

Colin de Grandhomme and Andrew de Boorder led the recovery with a partnership of 65 before Otago wicketkeeper Derek de Boorder caught his younger brother for 22 as he reached for a ball from left-arm spinner Nick Beard.

Auckland went to lunch at 125 for four with de Grandhomme 51 not out and looking set for a big score. He reached 73 off 75 balls before a brilliant piece of fielding from McCullum cut him off in his prime.

He drove powerfully through cover only for the Otago off-spinner to leap high and pluck the ball out of the air in his left hand. Anaru Kitchen kept the Auckland momentum going with a brisk 48 before he tried to cut McCullum and was bowled with the total on 216 for six.

McCullum was involved again when he hung on to a thick edge from Auckland captain Mills at first slip off Wagner and he had the dangerous Adams caught at the second attempt for 29, including two huge sixes.

The South African Wagner finished with four for 60 off 17 overs while McCullum, with little help from the pitch, took two for 65 off 23. Beard, whose deliveries were accompanied by a Sharapova-like grunt, had two for 48.

Meanwhile, at the Basin Reserve, Grant Elliott had a steady hand on the tiller to guide Wellington out of stormy waters against Northern Districts.

Elliott, 31, saved more blushes for his side - who have developed a reputation in recent seasons for jittery batting - crafting a sixth first-class century as the hosts recovered to 255 for seven by first-day stumps.

The six-test New Zealand allrounder reached 122 in a six-hour knock which ended on the final ball of the day when he was caught by James Marshall off the bowling of left-arm spinner Jason Donnelly.

It ended a 165-run seventh wicket stand between Elliott and Harry Boam, the youngster unbeaten on a patient 78.

At Nelson Park, Plunket Shield leaders Central Districts again felt right at home in Napier as they snatched control against Canterbury. The only team to pick up outright points in the first round - also at Nelson Park - CD are well-positioned to repeat after skittling the visitors for 266 yesterday.

The venue proved treacherous for batsmen in last week's 243-run hammering of Wellington and it was no different from the outset yesterday as seamer Michael Mason ripped the top off the Canterbury batting lineup, soon after his captain Jamie How won the toss.

Canterbury did well to recover from 25 for three but by stumps Central Districts had raced to 104 without loss, with How reaching 59 off just 81 balls and Peter Ingram 44.

- Additional reporting NZPA