Wellington falters after good start

Promising young batsman Josh Brodie cracked a half century against Canterbury on the opening day of the Plunket Shield four-day cricket season at the Basin Reserve today but Wellington failed to build on a promising start.

Wellington were dismissed for 214 in 87.3 overs in their first innings. At stumps, Canterbury's reply was at 29 for one.

Canterbury's test bowler Chris Martin was a thorn in the side of Wellington, his four wickets for 35 runs ensuring the foundation laid by Mathew Bell, 31, Neil Parlane, 36, and Brodie was never solidified.

Brodie's 66 was the second first class 50 of the left-hander's nine-match career which began in the 2007/08 season.

International all rounder Grant Elliott's return to the game after recovering from a broken finger suffered during October's Champions Trophy in South Africa did not last long after he became one of Martin's victims.

He lasted just 17 balls from which he scored three runs before snicking to wicketkeeper Kruger van Wyk.

At 156 for five, Cameron Merchant and Chris Nevin, in his 100th first class match for his province, set about reviving Wellington's innings.

But once they departed for 37 and 23 respectively, the Wellington innings capitulated meekly.

Brandon Hiini provided Martin with good support in the Canterbury attack with three for 34.

He was on a hat-trick after removing Brodie and Luke Woodcock but Nevin was never going to allow himself a duck in his landmark game.

The other players to have played 100 first class matches for Wellington are Evan Gray (120), Robert Vance (119) and Ervin McSweeney (102).

Michael Papps was the sole Canterbury wicket to fall today, scoring four from five balls before Iain O'Brien knocked his stumps over.

Rob Nicol and Peter Fulton resume tomorrow on 11 not out and 14 not out respectively.

- NZPA