Otago put its faith in a four-pronged pace attack but Canterbury claimed the honours thanks to a fine century from opener Rob Nicol, on the opening day of its Plunket Shield match in Rangiora yesterday.
Nicol scored 16 fours and a six in a quality innings of 107 to help Canterbury reach 286 for four at stumps.
It was Nicol's 10th first-class century and third for Canterbury and came off 203 deliveries. The experienced right-hander saw off England international Steven Finn - who perhaps bowled a tad too short in his opening seven-over spell - and nullified the threat of left-armer Neil Wagner with some sensible batting early on.
Nicol batted with more patience than he usually exhibits, but a steady diet of half volleys proved enabling, and he smashed eight fours in an 89-ball half-century.
He combined in an 81-run opening stand with George Worker, and at lunch Canterbury was well-placed at 107 for one.
Otago speedster James McMillan got the only breakthrough of the morning, bowling Worker for 34. It was 33-year-old's 100th first-class wicket for Otago.
Canterbury captain Peter Fulton nicked out on 22 and Nicol was undone shortly after the tea break when Finn snuck a delivery past his defence.
Wagner was expensive but pitched the ball up more, and the delivery which removed Fulton was a beauty. Great line, perfect length and just left Fulton enough to glance the edge on its way through to the wicketkeeper.
Canterbury scored at more than three runs an over for most of the day with Shanan Stewart picking up where Nicol left off.
Wagner gave the experienced campaigner a fright or two early, but the 29-year-old right-hander maintained his poise, getting through to 61 before McMillan enticed a mistake.
Tom Latham (40) and debutant Henry Nicholls (6) got through to stumps safely and will resume today.
Northern Districts drew first blood against Auckland, with their pace attack doing the damage in Whangarei, APNZ reported.
Northern captain Brad Wilson won the toss and elected to bowl at Cobham Oval, a decision soon vindicated by Black Cap-in-waiting Trent Boult (22).
The left-arm quick, who spent the winter touring with New Zealand A, kick-started his Plunket Shield campaign with a five-wicket bag, as Northern restricted Auckland to 250 for nine.
Boult removed former New Zealand test opener Tim McIntosh for two before dismissing South African-born Brad Cachopa for 37 from 129 balls.
The two other quicks in Northern's attack, Tim Southee and Brent Arnel, then tore through the heart of the Auckland batting.
Southee dismissed veteran Neal Parlane, before Arnel removed Andrew de Boorder for 64 and Auckland captain Gareth Hopkins for 13. Boult returned to take the wickets of Colin de Grandhomme, Andre Adams and Bruce Martin, and finish with figures of five for 48, his fourth five-wicket bag in first-class cricket.
Auckland ended the day at 250 for 9.
The wickets also tumbled at Nelson Park in Napier, as Wellington and Central Districts shared the honours.
After being sent in by Wellington, Central made a flying start, with Peter Ingram and Jamie How putting on 136 for the first wicket. But in the third over after lunch, How was run out for 46 by Wellington youngster Harry Boam, triggering a collapse in which Central lost seven wickets for 44 runs to finish with 253.
Debutant Scott Kuggeleijn was the chief destroyer.
Wellington was 59 for three at stumps.
