McSkimming pegs Canterbury back
Warren McSkimming's rich vein of wicket-taking continued, as he took 3 for 18 for Otago on the first day against Canterbury
Cricinfo staff
09-Mar-2005
Warren McSkimming took 3 for 18 from 14 overs on the first day at Dunedin to peg back Canterbury. But Gary Stead and Neil Broom swept to an unbeaten partnership of 58 for the fifth wicket to restore Canterbury's innings - they were 163 for 4 at stumps. The medium-pacer McSkimming continued his strong wicket-taking vein - he took nine wickets in the last match against Auckland - striking twice early on to remove the Papps brothers, Tim and Michael, and reduce the visitors to 15 for 2. They were both out caught. Peter Fulton and Shanan Stewart rescued the innings, lifting Canterbury past the hundred-mark before both tumbled in quick succession, each making 44. Fulton was McSkimming's third victim, while Aaraon Redmond trapped Stewart lbw. Stead and Broom then lifted them from 105 for 4 by adding 58 before the close of play.
A solid 91 from Alun Evans lifted Northern Districts to 262 on the first day of their State Championship match at the Eden Park Outer Oval. And they dealt Auckland an early blow, removing Bradley-John Watling without scoring to leave the home side 12 for 1 at the close. Evans posted 15 fours and one six on his way to a sparkling 91 from just 100 balls, but the legspinner Brooke Walker trapped him nine short of three figures. Wickets tumbled steadily throughout ND's innings, but James Marshall stood firm from No. 5, adding 71 before Gareth Shaw ran him out.
Michael Parlane and Jesse Ryder each struck unbeaten half-centuries to cement a solid day's batting for Wellington at Palmerston North. Central Districts took just two wickets all day as Wellington set about building a platform on the first day at Fitzherbert Park. Matthew Bell (32 including seven fours) and Luke Woodcock (34) shared an opening stand of 59 before both fell within a short time. The wicketkeeper Mathew Sinclair clung on to edges from each of the openers, Bell being undone by Ewen Thompson's fast-medium pace, and Regan West claiming Woodcock's wicket. But Wellington's third-wicket pairing of Parlane (52 not out) and Ryder (55 not out) strode on from 72 for 2 to post an unbeaten stand of 126 by the close.