Boult smashes 28 in an over

On a season-opening day of domestic cricket dominated by bowlers, it was fitting that Trent Boult stole the batting limelight.

The Black Caps pace bowler scored 61 off 37 balls batting at No 10 for Northern Districts against Otago at Bay Oval in Mt Maunganui, including hitting former Black Caps offspinner Mark Craig for 28 in one over – double his first-class batting average of 14.

It was Boult’s highest score of his career, bettering his 52 not out against Bangladesh in 2013, further pushing his case to finally vacate the No 11 spot for the Black Caps.

The big over came in the 35th of the innings, with his side nine wickets down, and still six runs behind Otago’s first-innings total of 108. He hit three consecutive sixes to start the over to bring up his half-century, charging down the wicket to heave the ball over the cow corner boundary. He then showed a deft touch to guide the fourth ball of the over through third man, before sending the final ball over mid-off for six.

Craig had the final say, getting Boult caught on the boundary two overs later in one of those team-catch situations, where an Otago player threw the ball to team-mate Hamish Rutherford as he was about to go over the boundary. ND were all out for 136.

Matt Bacon was Otago’s best bowler, taking 4-31, while Nathan Smith claimed 3-34, including the prized scalps of Black Caps captain Kane Williamson for one, and wicketkeeper B J Watling for a golden duck.

Earlier, Jacob Duffy was Otago’s top scorer in their first innings of 108, hitting 31 off 30 balls, also batting at 10. Neil Wagner had a good day with the ball, taking 3-31, while Boult snared 3-23. Jimmy Baker and Colin de Grandhomme took two wickets apiece.

Otago were 88-1 at the close of play in their second innings, a lead of 60, with Shawn Hicks (47) and Rutherford (37) at the crease.

Showers are predicted across the next three days in the Bay of Plenty.

At Saxton Oval, Nelson, Ross Taylor was the first player to score a Plunket Shield 50 this season, when he carved out 75 for the Central Stags against Canterbury. He was dismissed when Matt Henry sent his off stump cartwheeling. Dane Cleaver scored 56, while Henry was Canterbury’s best bowler with 4-87.

Willem Ludick (88 not out) and Christian Leopard (52) combined to put on 92 for the seventh wicket before Henry trapped the latter in front.

Central were 301-7 at the close of play.

Rain is predicted in Nelson today, but finer weather may return tomorrow and Saturday.

It was a day of starts for the Wellington Firebirds batsmen against Auckland at the Basin Reserve.

Eight players got into double figures as they batted first, but no-one scored more than Michael Bracewell’s 53. Jimmy Neesham chipped in with 51, while wicketkeeper Lauchie Johns added 40 valuable runs batting at eight, when his side looked in a spot of bother at 169-6. Wellington were eventually all out for 255.

Former Wellington paceman Matt McEwan took 4-48, while spinner Will Somerville – on his return to New Zealand after 10 years in Australia – managed 3-52.

Auckland were 64-2 at the close of play, with Jeet Raval unbeaten on 46. Rain is predicted for the next two days.