O'Leary had already reached three figures against Northern Districts and Auckland before she got through to 100 not out from the last ball of Wellington's 50-overs against Canterbury yesterday.

But it was a near thing for the 20-year-old Massey University student. She was dropped at mid-wicket on 98 before completing her century and taking her tournament average to a better-than-Bradman 305.

New Zealand Cricket encouraged associations to select their best players for the tournament, and O'Leary has, in the words of Wellington coach Penny Kinsella, been ``head and shoulders above the rest in batting class''.

O'Leary has represented Wellington's first XI for three years and toured England with the 1996 New Zealand team. Her goal is to earn selection for the 2000 World Cup, so she is concentrating on increasing her scoring rate to enhance her reputation as a limited-overs cricketer.

``She's a real example for the other players. Anna has always been a player earmarked as having potential and she is really showing that right now,'' said Kinsella.

The bowlers from Otago and co-leader Central Districts still have the dubious pleasure of confronting O'Leary in round-robin play leading up to Saturday's final.

A 60-run opening stand between O'Leary and Jo Trendle (18) laid the foundation for Wellington's 42-run victory over Canterbury. In other matches Central Districts overhauled Auckland, and Otago fell 129 runs short of Northern Districts.

Scores:

Wellington 203-6 (A O'Leary 100no; B McNeill 2-35, E Kelly 2-34) beat Canterbury 161 (S Burke 54; J Hunter-Siu 2-13, F King 2-16, A Corbin 2-33).

Auckland 142 (O Johnson 40no; D Trow 2-18, C Forsyth 2-16, E Komp 3-3) lost to Central Districts 146-4 (K Pulford 54, Forsyth 47no; M Tunopopo 2-15).

Northern Districts 206-7 (A Wilkins 58; R Pullar 2-33, M Walker 2-16) beat Otago 77 (M Kane 21; L Harris 3-15, H Partridge 4-9).