Former cricket international Aaron Redmond provided the glue to hold the Otago Volts together in the penultimate round of the Plunket Shield competition today.
The 31-year-old fronted with an invaluable 122 as Otago took their time in reaching 264 for six on the first day of the four-day fixture against the Northern Knights at Hamilton's Seddon Park.
Redmond's first century of the season, and the ninth of his first-class career, occupied 362 minutes as fifth-placed Otago Volts employed patience and watchful defence against a Northern Knights bowling attack used to getting its own way.
He was a rock, reaching three figures with eight fours off 228 balls in three minutes short of five hours after his side began unconvincingly due to the early loss of skipper Craig Cumming and Shaun Haig.
Fresh from an unbeaten hundred against the Canterbury Wizards, Cumming lasted all of 20 minutes before falling to the first of four catches to wicketkeeper Peter McGlashan, while Haig's stay was even briefer as he stuck around for only three balls.
Neil Broom, with 31, and Derek de Boorder, 54 not out, batted around Redmond as they helped resurrect the innings, with de Boorder reaching a deserved half-century shortly before the close.
Redmond was one of two centurymakers around the country as the competition entered the ninth round with five of the six teams remaining in title contention.
Peter Ingram, another international discard, was his normal fluent self in scoring 111 not out for the Central Stags against the Wellington Firebirds at the Basin Reserve in the capital.
After a delayed start until 2pm caused by overnight rain, Central ended the shortened day at 226 for four, with Ingram the clear standout as his 15th first-class century took him just 132 balls in less than three hours during an innings studded with 13 fours and one six.
He was helped in no small way by 22-year-old newcomer Ben Smith, who showed his powers of concentration on debut to contribute 58 to their second wicket stand of 166 in precisely three hours.
Smith, originally from Wanganui, showed an appreciation for solid defence and his assuredness enabled Ingram to play his natural game and take the attack to the bowling.
Canterbury's Shanan Stewart is within sight of a century as well as he helped guided the southerners to 298 for six by stumps against Auckland at Colin Maiden Park in Auckland.
Stewart's share was an unbeaten 81, with nine fours and a brace of sixes, as he ensured opener Rob Nicol's 61 did not go to waste after Canterbury found themselves betwixt and between at 139 for four following the decision of Auckland captain Gareth Hopkins to field first.
Batting at No 5, Stewart put on 103 for the fifth wicket with wicketkeeper Reece Young, who held his end up with 45 in two hours before edging behind off spinner Greg Todd.
NZPA
