Neil and Darren Broom made history in the opening round of the Plunket Shield when they both scored a century in an innings and together scored the second highest partnership by brothers in New Zealand First Class cricket history.
Only three sets of New Zealand brothers have reached the milestone of each brother scoring a century in an innings. The Broom brothers scored 203* (Neil) and 112 (Darren) in the first innings of the four day game against the Northern Knights in Queenstown.
The first occasion siblings scored a century each in an innings was back in 1920-21 when Nessie Snedden (139) and Cyril (119) scored centuries for Auckland against Hawke's Bay at Eden Park. The second occasion was last season (2009/10) when the Northern Knights were recording their record total of 726 against Canterbury at Rangiora. Hamish Marshall scored170 while his twin James scored 178*.
The Brooms’ partnership of 252 was also the highest by brothers in New Zealand First Class cricket. The Brooms overtook the record of 166 held by Dayle and Richard Hadlee, who scored the record partnership for the 8th wicket for Canterbury against Auckland back in 1983-84. The Crowe brothers, Jeff and Martin, have twice scored century partnerships together, once for Auckland and once for New Zealand, the Marshall brothers having done likewise with one for Northern Districts and one for New Zealand. Other brothers to have scored century partnerships together in New Zealand are Wayne and Bruce Blair for Otago, Matthew and Robbie Hart (Northern Districts), Michael and Tim Papps (Canterbury) and Michael and Neal Parlane for Wellington.
Centuries by Brothers in the Same Innings in domestic First Class Cricket in New Zealand
ANC Snedden 139 and CA Snedden 119
Auckland v Hawke's Bay in Auckland 1921/21
HJH Marshall 170 and JAH Marshall 178*
Northern Knights v Canterbury Wizards in Rangiora 2009/10
NT Broom 203* and DJ Broom112
Otago Volts v Northern Knights in Queenstown 2010/11
Century partnerships by brothers in domestic First Class cricket in New Zealand
252 NT Broom & DJ Broom
Otago Volts v Northern Knights in Queenstown 2010/11
166 RJ Hadlee & DR Hadlee
Canterbury v Auckland in Christchurch 1983/84
139 ME Parlane & NR Parlane
Wellington Firebirds v Canterbury Wizards in Wellington 2006/07
122 HJH Marshall & JAH Marshall
Northern Knights v Canterbury Wizards in Rangiora 2009/10
115 WL Blair & BR Blair
Otago v Canterbury in Christchurch 1979-80
105 MN Hart & RG Hart
Northern Knights v Otago Volts in Taupo 1998-99
103 TJT Papps & MHW Papps
Canterbury Wizards v Northern Knights in Gisborne 2004-05
