It was a good toss to lose for Wellington as they overcame that initial setback against State Championship cricket rivals Northern Districts yesterday.
Visiting captain James Marshall won the pre-match ritual before opting to bat, a decision he had cause to rue for much of the first day
of the four-day fixture at the Basin Reserve in Wellington.
A number of his batsmen made starts but none turned in a significant contribution until allrounder Graeme Aldridge stepped in to guide Northern Districts to 274 for nine at stumps. Northern Districts had found it difficult to make any headway against a well rounded attack, led by international Mark Gillespie and sparked by English professional Graham Napier.
Medium pacer Napier was the star turn in taking three for 46 off 19 overs after Northern Districts had looked in control at 96 for one an over before lunch.
The decision of skipper Matthew Bell to ask his spinner Mark Houghton to roll his arm over before the break paid handsome rewards when opener Josh Brodie, on 36, offered a catch in close. It was a setback Northern Districts never really recovered from.
No 7 Aldridge contributed an invaluable 50 not out.
He batted responsibly in tandem with the tail, particularly No 11 Trent Boult, who stuck around for 62 balls for his unbeaten 16 as they put on an unbroken stand of 47 for the last wicket.
Former Wellington captain Michael Parlane had earlier made 47 against his old province but even then he could feel short changed after failing to make the home side pay for dropping him on 30 and 34.
Marshall, too, got under way before departing for 35, Bradley Scott likewise perished after reaching 25 and Kane Williamson made 22 before Aldridge dragged the innings out.
Gillespie, fresh off the plane from Adelaide where he was not wanted by the New Zealand side for the second test against Australia, had figures of three for 69 off 19 overs.
ND batsman Cameron Merchant has been fined $350 for dissent over an incident in Northern's match against CD in Hamilton last week.
- NZPA
