It was the middle and lower order that amassed the runs for the Northern Knights in their first innings against the Canterbury Wizards on day two of the State Championship match at Seddon Park.
Young cricketer of the year Kane Williamson and Joseph Yovich put on 143 for the fifth wicket after Northern were in trouble at 63 for four.
Williamson was on the verge of reaching his maiden first class century before being dismissed for 98.
Another brilliant partnership for the eighth wicket between Peter McGlashan and Graeme Aldridge of 163 took the Northern score through to 417 and firmly put their team in control of the match.
McGlashan contributed 91, while Aldridge hit a career best 75.
The Canterbury bowlers made the batsmen work for their runs with the overall run rate being 2.47.
Andrew Ellis had the tidiest figures of three for 44 off 22 overs and included nine maidens, while Hamish Bennett took three for 79 off his 26.
Northern’s new ball bowlers Tim Southee and Graeme Aldridge have dismissed the two openers to leave Canterbury 62 for two overnight.
