De Boorder makes mark with century, fine catch

Otago wicketkeeper-batsman Derek de Boorder on his way to a century against Central Districts at...
Otago wicketkeeper-batsman Derek de Boorder on his way to a century against Central Districts at the University Oval yesterday. Photo: Gerard O'Brien
Under-rated Otago wicketkeeper-batsman Derek de Boorder fashioned a big century to help steer his side past 500 yesterday.

The 32-year-old right-hander was unbeaten on 140 when his side declared at 513 for seven shortly after lunch on day two of its Plunket Shield fixture at the University Oval.

Central Districts has made a dent in the lead, reaching 163 for two at stumps.

The game is evenly poised, but the day belonged to de Boorder.

"The wicket was pretty true this morning and we needed to push on, so it was good timing," he said of his fourth first-class hundred.

"It has been a while since I’ve scored a hundred and I was pretty determined to get one over the line."

Otago resumed on 319 for five, with de Boorder and Anaru Kitchen both unbeaten on 46.

Kitchen got into his stride quickly and the partnership mounted.

The pair had put on 120 for the sixth wicket when Kitchen cut a delivery from Adam Milne into the hands of Jesse Ryder at gully for a valuable 76.

Mark Craig chipped in with 37 and Neil Wagner hit four fours in an undefeated 28 from 30 balls to help take Otago past 500.

De Boorder brought his 100 up in style with a six off the bowling of Ajaz Patel. Following the tea break he turned the aggression dial to maximum and punished the spinner.

He swatted one delivery the best part of 90m, maybe more. It ended up on the adjacent football field and had rolled a good deal further before coming to rest.

The declaration came shortly after and just as well, as a large group of school children had assembled in the area de Boorder had just clouted the ball.

Central Districts made a sparkling start to its reply, with Greg Hay and George Worker putting on their second consecutive 100-run opening stand.

Wagner got the much-needed breakthrough when Hay slashed a delivery to point on 57.

The Black Caps left-armer struck again when Worker was adjudged to have got something on the ball as it fizzed past his right shoulder.

De Boorder made a tremendous catch down leg side, diving to his right and taking it in his right glove and cradling it with the other.

"It is always nice to get a catch like that late in the piece, and after I had batted as long as I did."

In the other games around the country, Wellington has continued its brilliant beginning to the campaign.

It beat Canterbury in two days at the Basin Reserve.

Former international Hamish Bennett claimed his first 10 wicket bag. He took five for 34 in the second innings to help dismiss Canterbury for 156, leaving Wellington a modest chase of 116 runs.

The home team lost five wickets in the chase, which meant 35 wickets tumbled in about 170 overs.

Wellington keeper Tom Blundell took 10 catches to equal the association’s record for dismissals in a match.

At Seddon Park, Auckland took a first innings lead of 167 after scoring 315. Northern Districts is 81 for three and trails by 86 runs with two days to play.

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