Ish Sodhi and Sean Davey posted maiden first-class centuries and combined in a Canterbury record unbroken eight-wicket stand against Otago of 204.
They scored the runs at basically a run-a-ball. The longer they batted, the further the game slipped away from Otago.
Canterbury declared at 501 for seven.
The Volts lost three quick wickets in the middle session before Glenn Phillips counterattacked with 84 not out to get the home team through to 254 for five at stumps on day two.
They trail by 247, so there is a lot of work ahead.
Canterbury resumed on 356 for seven. Sodhi was unbeaten on 41 and Davey was at the wicket with him on 29.
The pair had taken advantage of a tiring attack, adding 59 on Wednesday afternoon. But yesterday morning was brutal.
Sodhi swiped Luke Georgeson for a couple of sixes early on to set the tone.
Otago quickly stopped trying to get the pair out in a conventional way.
They set the field deep and attacked with a barrage of bumpers.
The tactic fell flat.
Phillips got collared. Sodhi swung the off spinner away for three sixes and they all went in the direction of wide midwicket.
Davey, meanwhile, used his feet beautifully to hit down the ground. He utilised the cut shot nicely as well.
The right-arm seamer went into the game with a previous best of 55 — and smoked that top score.
He cut a delivery from Phillips to the rope to bring up his maiden first-class century, and Canterbury promptly declared.
A couple of overs earlier, Sodhi had sliced a drive over mid-off and run through to bring up his maiden century.
He celebrated with panache (see Notes from Slip).
It was quite magnificent. He may never score another hundred and he certainly enjoyed the moment.
The visitors made inroads in the Otago batting lineup after the lunch break.
Jacob Cumming nicked off for 41. Then fellow opener Jack Boyle (21) got an unplayable ball from Michael Rae, which nipped in and pegged back leg stump.
Tom Jones (21) looked good until Sodhi spun a wrong’un past his defence.
But Phillips got some revenge on Sodhi, lofting him down the ground for a brace of sixes.
Otago emerged from the tea break at 133 for three.
Phillips evened the score with Sodhi, hitting a third six before he added a fourth, a fifth and a sixth.
They are mates, but that felt personal.
Phillips had a life on 73, trying to launch another.
Sodhi was left hunched over in disappointment.
• Day two of the match between Wellington and Central Districts was dominated by rain. Tim Robinson advanced from 94 to 105 and Wellington are 218 for three.
Auckland left-arm spinner Rohit Gulati snatched six for 51 to help dismiss Northern Districts for 152.
The Aces were 120 for one in their second innings at stumps and lead by 275 runs.
• Otago A tagged on an extra game yesterday.
The Zappers won all four games at the Provincial A T20 tournament in Taupō this week. Before returning to Dunedin yesterday, they played another T20 against Auckland A in Auckland and won by four wickets. Mason Clarke took three for 20 to help dismiss Auckland A for 126. Jake Gibson top-scored with 33 in a comfortable chase.
• The West Indies declared on their overnight score of 346 for five in their two day warm-up game in Lincoln. They dismissed the New Zealand XI for 264.
Cam Paul top-scored for the home team with 91, while Johann Layne took three for 33.
PLUNKET SHIELD
CANTERBURY
T Latham c Georgeson b Phillips 52
C Bowes lbw Georgeson 18
R Mariu c Jones b McKay 14
H Nicholls c Chu b McKay 111
M Boyle c Lockrose b Bacon 10
M Hay c Lockrose b Phillips 42
I Sodhi not out 108
A McKenzie c Georgeson b Ferns 15
S Davey not out 101
Extras (6b, 12lb, 10w, 2nb):30
Total (for seven, 121.2 overs) 501
Fall: 1-29, 2-51, 3-131, 4-149, 5-247, 6-262, 7-297.
Bowling: L Georgeson 18-2-76-1 (1w), D Ferns 21-0-92-1 (1w), M Bacon 20-4-67-1 (1w), J McKay 19-4-64-2 (2nb, 2w), G Phillips 25.2-2-103-2, B Lockrose 18-0-81-0 (1w).
OTAGO
J Boyle b Rae 21
J Cumming c Nicholls b Davey 41
T Jones b Sodhi 21
T Parkes b McKenzie 41
G Phillips not out 84
M Chu c Mariu b Davey 22
L Georgeson not out 10
Extras (5lb, 3w, 6nb):14
Total (for five, 68 overs): 254
Fall: 1-72, 2-72, 3-96, 4-182, 5-227,
Bowling: F Sheat 12-3-36-0 (1w), S Davey 12-1-46-2 (3nb, 1w), A McKenzie 14-3-44-1 M Rae 15-2-40-1 (1w), I Sodhi 15-0-83-1 (3nb).
