It is not very often Mathew Sinclair chalks up a first these
days.
The former Black Cap and Central Districts top order batsman
has pretty much done it all when it comes to domestic
cricket.
Remarkably, the 37-year-old is in his 18th season and has
scored more than 13,000 thousand first-class runs including
36 hundreds.
While Sinclair has enjoyed plundering runs against Otago,
with eight centuries against the province, until yesterday he
had never scored a 100 in Dunedin and he was quite pleased
about it.
He brought up the milestone when he flicked a delivery from
Otago all-rounder Ryan ten Doeschate off his hip and ran down
the wicket with both arms raised in joy.
''I think it was because that felt like a pretty challenging
innings,'' Sinclair said.
''Today was about patience and picking off the bad balls when
they were available. It was probably one of the harder
hundreds, so in respect to that it was a good day.''
Sinclair was eventually out for 142 but his innings has
helped make safe Central Districts' Plunket Shield match
against Otago at the University Oval.
The home side needed quick wickets if it was going to force a
result but Sinclair's knock stymied any progress in that
regard.
The veteran right-hander is in the twilight of his career and
has given up entertaining any idea of extending his
international career.
''I know that New Zealand dream has pretty much gone now. For
me it is about helping out the youngsters at Central
Districts, but also just getting out there and enjoying the
game.
''I sort of weighed up [retirement] a few times but I feel
like I need to be settle in life outside of cricket first.
I've been playing for 18 years and I know it is not far away.
"I did a bit of a stint over the winter for the Napier City
Council and really got myself involved with their business
and economic development agency. That has opened my mind to
opportunities outside the game. But in saying I feel like I
have so much experience to offer the youngsters here.''
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