Spectator takes catch of the day in tour match

A spectator provided the catch of the day while dashing batsman James Hopes excelled for the Queensland Academy of Sport against the touring New Zealander cricket team at Allan Border Field here today.

New Zealand declared its first innings at 8-297, giving its bowlers pushing for Test selection use of a wicket which had sweated under the covers for 24 hours after rain had washed out the second day's play.

The QAS declared its innings at 7-267 and immediately hit pay dirt when wicketkeeper Chris Hartley snaffled a great diving catch to remove Black Caps opener Mark Richardson with the first ball of the second innings.

At stumps the Kiwis were 1-25 in their seconds innings, an overall 55-run lead with one day remaining.

Hopes, 23, who bowled 29 overs without reward in New Zealand's first innings, made amends with the bat today.

He carved up the tourists with some lusty shot-making before a rash swing outside off stump on 75 denied him a century.

The Brisbane Norths captain made an instant impact on first class cricket last year when he grabbed 5-29 against South Australia, returning the Bulls' best one day bowling figures since Carl Rackemann bagged five wickets in 1993-94.

He hit some sweet cover drives off the back foot and one brutal pull shot today as smashed 14 boundaries during a 100-run partnership off just 118 balls with opener Daniel Payne.

Payne, who also showed he could be aggressive, fell victim to a yorker from another Kiwi Test hopeful, Chris Martin, after moving menacingly to 57.

Hopes and Payne savaged New Zealand left-arm finger spinner Daniel Vettori who finished with 1-60 off 13 overs with Dion Nash (2-36 off 15 overs) the pick of the Kiwi attack.

QAS batsman Nathan Hauritz was awarded a six after a spectator reached one-handed over the picket fence to catch his straight hit just inside the boundary.

Damian Mackenzie later hoisted a six into the car park on his way to an unbeaten 17.