Welcome batting display for Northern Districts

Two century partnerships dominated the second day as Northern Districts moved into a commanding position against Otago, whose position at the foot of the State Championship was confirmed.

ND finished on 320/5 in their first innings, a lead of 202. Scott Styris was the individual performer of the day, with a career-best 127 not out.

Otago added 11 to their overnight score to be all out for 118. Joseph Yovich had David Sewell caught behind to finish with four for 58.

The ND innings began as disastrously as Otago's had, with both openers falling early to casual shots.

James Marshall nudged a leg-side delivery from Kerry Walmsley into the hands of wicket-keeper Duncan Drew. Matthew Hart drove rashly at Sewell to give Craig Pryor a catch at second slip. At 10/2 it seemed that another ND collapse was on its way.

But it was not to be. Michael Parlane and Grant Robinson put on 104 for the third wicket, only the second century stand for ND this season.

Parlane's 65 came from 115 balls, including 11 fours and a six. At his best, Parlane strikes the ball as fluently as anybody. Two cuts off successive deliveries from Pryor illustrated his range. A delicate shot went fine of third man for four, followed by a bludgeoning hoist, square for six. Pryor also dropped Parlane, off Sewell, on 41, but had his revenge by returning to attack to remove the batsman's off stump.

Robinson began cautiously, not hitting a boundary until he had been in for 13 overs. He had some luck, with edges not going to hand, but batted with increasing confidence. The left-hander out-scored Parlane in the latter phase of the partnership, no mean feat in itself. He finished with 45, with eight fours.

ND cannot go on converting bowlers into top order batsmen. They need specialists who will develop into long-term regulars. Robinson's performance today hinted that he may fit the bill.

Another hundred partnership followed at once, as Styris and Hamish Marshall put on 112 for the fifth wicket. Styris dominated from the outset, causing a flurry of bowling changes from Otago skipper Craig Cumming as he became increasingly desperate to cut off the flow of runs.

Marshall was overshadowed at first, but accelerated later, hitting six fours and a six on his way to 43 from 69 balls. The partnership occupied only 24 overs before Marshall padded up right in front of the stumps to the first delivery of a new spell from Walmsley.

A tough chance on the square leg boundary was knocked over the line for six by Chris Gaffaney to allow Styris to reach fifty and Drew missed a stumping chance that would have given Scott Waide his first first-class wicket when Styris was 83.

Styris reached the second century of his career from 112 balls. In all, he hit 10 fours and five sixes, the biggest of which went into the rush hour traffic over wide long on. The time has come to take Styris out of the pigeon-hole marked 'one-day specialist who bats a bit'. His innings today was fine attacking, orthodox batting, full of good shots all round the wicket. He is ND's leading scorer in the State Championship.

Robbie Hart (20 not out) supported Styris well in the last hour, as they put on an unbroken 79 for the sixth wicket.

The day ended controversially. The penultimate ball saw the last of a series of caught behind appeals turned down. The bowler, Walmsley, was visibly annoyed. The batsman, Robbie Hart, pulled away from the next ball just before the point of delivery. Walmsley carried on and removed a bail. Hart stood his ground. The umpires consulted before ruling that the ball was dead.

Walmsley and his opening partner Sewell were the only bowlers who bowled with consistent control. They were unlucky not to take wickets in their new-ball spell at the end of the day. Walmsley finished the day with two for 48, Sewell with one for 59.

Waide and Nathan Morland bowled a lengthy spell of off spin in partnership after tea. It was controlled, but largely unthreatening.

ND will attempt to bat through to lunch tomorrow before setting Otago a target of 350 plus. An innings victory is a realistic prospect.