Two double tons in Shield
Canterbury and Central Districts are in commanding positions after a pair of double centuries from two of New Zealand’s up-and-coming batting talents.
Leo Carter, 25, plundered 226 not out for Canterbury against Wellington on day three at Mainpower Oval in Rangiora yesterday, having started the day on 62.
Dane Cleaver, 28, followed suit a short time later when he saluted for his double ton before falling for 201 for Central Districts against Northern Districts at McLean Park in Napier.
Carter was still at the crease when his captain, Steven Murdoch, declared at 570-8 early in the final session, his team holding a lead of 254.
He batted well alongside Ken McClure, who struck 152 before his off stump was removed by a Jimmy Neesham delivery.
Cam Fletcher (38), Will Williams (38) and Fraser Sheat (33) provided lowerorder support as Carter went past 200, before going on to more than double his previous highest score of 101.
Carter hit 21 fours and three sixes in the knock.
Wellington’s bowlers toiled away in hot conditions, with Iain McPeake the best of them, taking 3-80.
Wellington lead the Plunket Shield after three rounds, but will be out to simply avoid an outright loss on today’s final day.
They ended the day on 78-4, a deficit of 176, having lost the crucial wicket of run-machine Devon Conway for a duck.
Cleaver started on 12 not out and was in devastating ball-striking form, scoring his 201 off just 223 balls, with 18 fours and eight sixes.
Cleaver was on 188 when he was joined by No 11 Ray Toole at the crease.
Toole saw off five deliveries before Cleaver smashed two sixes over cow corner off spinner Mitchell Santer to bring up his double ton.
It was his second big first-class score in the space of four weeks after he struck 196 for New Zealand A against India A at Hagley Oval on January 31.
He was caught in the deep off the next ball as his side reached 482, a lead of 211. Santner took 4-111.
Northern ended the day on 64-2 – still trailing by 147 – as Cleaver took two catches at wicketkeeper.
In the other game of the round, Nick Kelly got Otago out of a spot of bother against Auckland, scoring a muchneeded 118 at the Eden Park Outer Oval in Auckland.
He came in with the score at 57-4, but batted well with the lower order to get his side through to 266-8. They were eventually dismissed for 281 in response to Auckland’s 467-6 declared.
Left-arm spinner Louis Delport was the chief destroyer for Auckland, taking 5-77 from his 28 overs – a maiden first-class five-wicket haul at the age of 32.
Auckland treated the remainder of the day like a T20, scoring 166-3 off 18 overs, led by Jeet Raval’s 66 not out off 51 balls, to lead by 352 runs.