Colin Munro is not exactly the most fleet of foot and there is nothing in the textbook which would adequately describe his technique.
But you certainly cannot fault his intent or his ability to find the boundary. The South African-born left-hander flayed a maiden century to help resurrect Auckland's prospects in its Plunket Shield match against Otago at the University Oval yesterday.
After Saturday's play was rained off, Auckland resumed yesterday at 80 for five and facing the very real prospect of conceding a significant first-innings deficit after Otago was dismissed for 226.
On a bowler-friendly pitch, Munro opted for valour rather than discretion and changed the complexion of the match with what was a brilliant counterattack, scoring more than half his team's runs.
He whacked seven sixes and 12 fours in a 115-ball innings of 130 and was particularly brutal on Neil Wagner, scoring 72 runs from the 53 deliveries he faced from the left-armer.
In the context of this game, it may prove to be a match-wining innings. Regardless, it helped his team reach 242.
In reply, Otago was 77 for four at stumps and in a desperate battle to avoid defeat. The situation is even more perilous than the score suggests, with experienced batsman Craig Cumming forced to retire hurt and bowler Ian Butler also suffering a side strain which forced him from the bowling crease.
The day's play started at the later time of 1pm due to a rain delay and Otago donned black arm bands out of respect for the memory of cricket broadcaster Peter Sharp who died over the weekend.
If Otago loses this match it will look back on that afternoon session as the period it let the game slip away.
The home side had everything in its favour. The pitch, which had already proven bowler-friendly with 15 wickets falling on the opening day, had been under cover for 38 hours with poor weather ruining any chance of play on Saturday.
Overcast conditions helped tilt the balance even further in the bowlers' favour. All Otago needed to do was hit some good areas and stay patient.
No problem except Otago produced an erratic bowling performance and some dismal fielding to concede the initiative to Auckland.
The Volts should have been fizzing but were flat from the onset. Warren McSkimming's opening over was instantly forgettable and Wagner was getting a pasting at the hands of Munro.
Otago's prospects were not helped with Butler breaking down five balls into his first over.
Jimmy Neesham replaced Butler at the bowling crease and was immediately under pressure with Munro lofting him for six and crashing the next through the covers.
Gareth Hopkins was not batting with the same freedom down the other end. His was an innings best described as grim survival but valuable nonetheless.
With every edge which did not carry or go to hand, every confident appeal turned down, Hopkins helped his side claw its way back.
With Munro in an aggressive mood, the pair rattled on the runs. The 100-run partnership came off just 112 balls.
By the time Hopkins was trapped lbw for 46 by Wagner, the partnership had drained much of Otago's resolve.
Mitchell McClenaghan's annoying innings did little to lift morale. He should have been out on 10 but Michael Bracewell was somehow unable to grasp the easiest of catches in the gully when the ball ballooned his way.
McClenaghan stayed long enough to support Munro through to his century in a partnership of 54.
Otago's top order has been under pressure all summer and it was not long before Auckland had made inroads. Aaron Redmond's resistance lasted just four balls before he was trapped in front.
Michael Bracewell and Neil Broom were nicked out and then Cumming was struck on the hand by Martin.
Sam Wells capped off a miserable day for Otago when he guided a delivery from Martin to the wicketkeeper.
Butler's side strain and Cumming's hand injury will be reassessed this morning.
Mark Gillespie took career-best figures to put Wellington in a strong position against Canterbury in Rangiora after his side conceded a large first-innings deficit, APNZ reports.
The former Black Cap snagged six for 41 as the home side was skittled for 144, with only Shanan Stewart (57) providing much work for the scorers.
Canterbury's poor second-innings effort left Wellington needing 278 for an outright victory and it was 61 for one at the close of play.
Central Districts needs 269 runs to beat Northern Districts in Gisborne win with only six wickets intact.
Northern began yesterday on 114 for two in its second innings as it looked to build on its 126-run first-innings advantage, but Palmerston North's Bevan Small claimed four for 38 with his rapid right-armers to bowl out the home side for 280.
The four-wicket haul was the 19-year-old's best figures at first-class level in only his third match and continued a successful patch of form where he took nine wickets in his first three 50-over outings for Central.
Zimbabwean international Kyle Jarvis claimed three second-innings scalps to give him match figures of eight for 115.
Mathew Sinclair and Kruger van Wyk are the crease for Central, unbeaten on 40 and 30 respectively.
