Papps threat to Harris' legacy

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Chris Harris joked a couple of days ago that he had to come back to first-class cricket, if only to protect his legacy from Michael Papps.

Formerly Canterbury's record holder for most centuries, with 12, Harris is playing his first four-day match since March 2007, against Auckland at QEII Park.

The good news for the 40-year-old is that by getting to the close of play last night on 83 not out, he is well placed to bring up hundred No13. The bad news is that Papps extended the new mark to 16 yesterday, as the home side posted 368 for six.

"He's only got a few runs to catch up, so he'll keep that margin intact," Papps said after being run out for 107.

The opening batsman seemed certain to progress serenely through to three figures until he set off for a single to move from 96 to 97. Halfway down the pitch, Papps got the fright of his life when batting partner Johann Myburgh collided with him.

"I was definitely ball watching and, I think, so was he. I tried to jink, but we went the same way and we ran into each other," said Myburgh, who went on to make 120.

"He got a bit of a fright, and so did I obviously, because you don't want to injure one of your main batters."

But that is how things looked when Papps called for trainer Neil Tyndall. He was very ginger for a while before being able to resume and complete the hundred.

The drama between the wickets did not end there, with Myburgh eventually running out Papps as he closed in on his own century. Myburgh hit one to midwicket where Auckland captain Gareth Hopkins, usually a wicketkeeper, threw the stumps down before Papps could make his crease.

"My fault. I thought I'd hit it a little bit harder and Hoppy – I haven't seen him field too many times – did well," Myburgh said.

"At the time I felt dreadful and I've spoken to Pappsy and congratulated him on another century and I thought he played really well and I feel bad because I think he could've got a double century even."

With Papps gone, out came that man Harris. He began in frenetic fashion, going to tea on 34 from 35 balls, which included four fours and a six.

He did show his age a bit after tea, though. Players of a more modern vintage might be frightened to use their feet to the slow bowlers but there was Harris, merrily bounding down the wicket to offspinner Bhupinder Singh and whacking him back over his head.

The innings really was a typical Harris hand, played with all the impish enthusiasm you might expect from a player half his age.

The only stain on the day was the loss of a couple of late wickets, which might make the pursuit of a total near 500 a difficult one.

Meanwhile, Northern Districts pace bowler Tim Southee tore Wellington's first innings apart when he grabbed eight wickets on the opening day at Hamilton yesterday.

Wellington, with useful contributions of 69 from Josh Brodie, 88 from Cameron Merchant and 58 by Luke Woodcock were 241 for six at one stage after tea. But Southee ripped through the lower order to have them all out for 263. His eight wickets cost just 27 runs from 25 overs that included 12 maidens.

It was his fifth first-class five-wicket bag and surpassed his previous best figures of six for 68 against Auckland in the 2007-08 season.

Meanwhile, Otago's Shaun Haig and Neil Broom shared an unbroken 302-run third wicket stand to have the southerners powerfully placed at 357 for two against Central Districts at Napier yesterday. Both batsmen posted career-best scores with Haig unbeaten on 150 and Broom 159 not out.

SCOREBOARD

CANTERBURY R Nicol lbw Bates1 M Papps run out107 T Astle c Kitchen b Bopara13 J Myburgh c Kitchen b Bopara120 C Harris not out83 C Anderson b Bopara0 C van Wyk c Bopara b Bates11 A Ellis not out4 Extras (8b, 11 lb, 2w, 8nb)29 Total (6 wkts, 97 overs)368 Fall: 14, 51, 232, 315, 315, 356. Bowling: M Bates 23-6-64-2, P Erasmus 16-3-52-0, R Bopara 24-5-69-3 (1w, 3nb), B Singh 21-5-78-0, T Nethula 13-0-86-0 (1w, 5nb).

- © Fairfax NZ News