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.''
