Fine opening between Ryder and Richardson

Lincoln Green's reputation, at the High Performance Centre, lived up to its reputation as one of the finest batting surfaces in the country as the New Zealand Academy Selection scored 349 for 9 on the first day of their two-day match with Otago yesterday.

With a warm north-westerly blowing, conditions were ideal, and the Academy Selection opening batsmen Jesse Ryder and Mark Richardson revelled in an opening stand of 173 runs. The situation suited Ryder's inherent aggression and the timing of his innings was consistently just below run a ball pace. His half-century was scored off 69 balls while Richardson took a much more typical role in taking the anchor role, although his 50 took only 76 balls, but 20 minutes slower than Ryder.

By lunch, Ryder was on 95, having hit 17 fours and one six, as the Academy were 160 without loss. But after adding two runs after lunch, Ryder was run out, for the third successive time in innings with Richardson. The break in their stand resulted in Richardson also departing, when attempting a reverse-sweep off Nathan Morland's bowling, for 75.

A 61-run partnership between Peter Fulton and Neil Broom maintained the scoring momentum but it was broken when Bradley Scott struck to dismiss Broom. Scott also claimed Fulton's wicket, for 43, when he was caught behind. The best of the rest of the batting came from Ross Taylor who scored 52 before the Academy Selection went to stumps at 349-9, having lost their last seven wickets for 105 runs.

The rewards went to Scott and McSkimming who took three wickets in tiring conditions for bowlers.

Brief scoreboard:

New Zealand Academy Selection 349-9 (J Ryder 97, M Richardson 75, R Taylor 52, P Fulton 43, B Scott 3-67, W McSkimming 3-85) met Otago