Canterbury batsman Brad Doody returned to form with a vengeance, stroking his way to a maiden first-class century for the New Zealand Cricket Academy against Pakistan A at Lincoln Green yesterday.
Doody has had a lean time for the Academy in its early-season outings, but the Canterbury Country left-hander was in commanding form, posting 137 as the Academy reached 459 for eight before declaring.
It had 10 overs bowling at Pakistan A, which was 41 for one at stumps.
The innings took Doody 174 balls, including 18 fours and four sixes, and is his highest first-class score after a previous best of 93.
Doody shared a 116-run fourth-wicket stand with David Kelly, making his first-class debut, in 104 minutes. Doody and Kelly had to withstand some lively fast bowling, especially from Pakistan's 17-year-old Irfan Fazil who mustered sharp pace on the quick wicket. Fazil was the most successful of the visiting bowling attack, but also delivered 21 no balls.
Another valuable innings came from Mark Jefferson, who blazed 69 off 43 balls with 12 fours and a six as the score accelerated past 400, its over-all innings using 89.2 overs.
Day 3: Marshall thwarts Pakistanis
Opener James Marshall posted his maiden first-class century -- the game's third -- for the New Zealand Cricket Academy in its drawn, high-scoring, three-day match against Pakistan A at Lincoln Green.
Marshall, from Northern Districts, yesterday joined Brad Doody who hit a hundred on the first day while Pakistan A also provided a century-maker, Abdul Razzaq, on Saturday.
The Academy had hopes of declaring and setting Pakistan A a target, but apart from Marshall and Jarrod Englefield who added 127 for the second wicket, wickets fell at regular intervals. Academy coach Dayle Hadlee did not feel it had enough runs to defend with a young attack on the run-laden track and batted out the afternoon being dismissed for 268 about 5pm.
Marshall made 122 from 204 balls in 263 minutes and his scoring was laced with 19 fours. His effort was equalled by some excellent pace bowling from Pakistan A new-ball bowler Fazil Akbar who claimed six for 69, including the top six batsmen.
Despite being destined for a draw Pakistan had some batting practice reaching 96 for three from just 10.1 overs, all three wickets falling to medium-pacer Ryan Burson, of Canterbury, before stumps just after 6pm.
The visitors' next match is against Northern at Timaru in the Shell Conference series which starts on Wednesday.