Rhys Mariu reaches fifth highest individual score in Canterbury first-class history
Canterbury 22-year-old Rhys Mariu’s mammoth knock in Nelson reached 240 today before he finally miscued a delivery from allrounder Will Clark.
The opening batter’s hefty innings now goes down as the fifth biggest in Canterbury’s first-class history (dating back to the 1863/64 season) – and, in his first match as captain.
Mariu batted for almost eight and a half hours in total, striking 25 boundaries and three sixes. The third afternoon of the match at a windy Saxton Oval saw him go one to declare at 492/7, for an impressive 290-run first innings lead.
By the time bad light and a brush of wet weather ended play in the last session, the Stags had reduced that deficit to 112, with seven wickets in hand heading into the final day’s play, tomorrow.
Young Stags opener Curtis Heaphy struck a quick 81 for the hosts before becoming one of two victims of BLACKCAP Will O’Rourke, Central set to resume on 178/3.
Central Stags v Canterbury scores
The final innings has commenced at Hamilton’s Seddon Park where the Auckland Aces need a total of 371 tomorrow if they are to defeat hosts and current competition leader, Northern Districts.
On another stop-start, rain-smattered day, ND’s highlight was also a century from their captain, Jeet Raval shrugging off weather distractions to top-score with an unbeaten 120* off just 144 deliveries, in his side’s second innings.
Fellow opener Henry Cooper anchored him with a patient half century (52) in their opening partnership of 117, Raval later declaring at 252/5, after just 56.5 overs.
Raval’s century was his 21st in first-class cricket (all teams), and his fifth for Northern.
By stumps, shortly after 7PM on a late-finishing day, the Aces had already lost two wickets at the hands of allrounder Brett Hampton, poised to resume at 53/2 with captain Sean Solia on 23* and nightwatcher Jordan Sussex yet to get off the mark.
The Aces will require a further 318 runs tomorrow, while ND needs eight wickets.
Northern Districts v Auckland Aces scores
The second innings is yet to get started, heading into what could be an intriguing last day in Dunedin – weather permitting – where the two teams are locked in a fairly even contest.
Having resumed on 86 not out, Otago Volt Dale Phillips produced his seventh first-class century to make sure the hosts stayed in the fight, top-scoring with a knock of 135, including a dozen boundaries and two sixes.
It was another day, and match, in which frequent rain interruptions tested the batters’ concentration. The Volts had reached 299/8 by tea, just 58 runs behind the Firebirds on the first innings – but that proved to be the last action for the penultimate day, as more rain set in.
Keeper-batter Max Chu has continued his good form for the team, unbeaten on 58*.
Play in all matches is scheduled to resume at 10.30am on the decisive day, tomorrow.
