Richard Scragg's spare innings at the top of the order, and combative performances by Glen Sulzberger and Bevan Griggs, kept Central Districts in the hunt for first innings points after the third day of their State Championship match against Wellington at the Basin Reserve today.

Central were 260/7 at stumps, responding to Wellington's first innings total of 326/8 declared, and with a day remaining and a possibility of rain, the prize of two points for a first innings led has loomed larger in the sights of both teams.

There were times today when a first innings result seemed to have slipped beyond Central's grasp and they flirted with the possibility of declaring in deficit to leave Wellington to concoct the prospect of an outright result tomorrow.

But after Scragg had provided an anchor to the innings and Sulzberger had followed him to a half century, particularly when Griggs disturbed the equilibrium of the match with a quick 49, Central's expectations changed.

They still believed at stumps, despite the exposure of their tail, that they might be able to eke out the 67 runs tomorrow which will give them a first innings lead and two points, though no other result might then be achievable.

Wellington's desperation for points is much greater than Central's and they would have hoped the match would have been far more advanced by stumps. The New Zealand first-class champions have only one point near the end of this third round of Championship matches and they need at least first innings points here to begin closing the gap on the leaders.

They would have hoped for a Central declaration behind and there were times today when it seemed it might come, particularly when Sulzberger was out and Central were 203/6. Central considered a declaration at that point but Griggs was then in full flight and as he hurried to 49 from only 88 balls with eight fours the incentive to freely award Wellington first innings points declined.

Central also rationalised that it might rain tomorrow - the forecast is not promising - and that they would have shown unnecessary generosity in giving up the first innings points without a greater fight.

Central's progress through this third day, which began 18 minutes late because of a damp outfield, was slow at times. Scragg's was a innings of almost glacial slowness but he still played an important hand as he reached his first first-class half century in three minutes less than four hours.

Scragg, formerly of Auckland and whose previous highest first-class score was 24, batted for 253 minutes and received 196 balls from which he carved only four boundaries but he was at the crease till Central had reached 152/4.

He shared a 66-run first wicket stand with David Kelly, who made 34 in 116 minutes, and which lasted from before stumps last night to within sight of lunch this afternoon.

Kelly's dismissal brought to the wicket Black Caps batsman Mathew Sinclair who stood in glaring need of a long innings to repair his form and confidence after an unproductive tour of Australia and before the announcement tomorrow of the New Zealand Test team to meet Bangladesh.

Sinclair survived 33 minutes and accumulated 16 runs with a single boundary before he rashly, or rather dreamily, cut short his own innings when he backed up too far and was run out at the non-striker's end. He had advanced too far down the wicket in support of Scragg and seemed cast when Matthew Bell fetched the ball at mid on, turned and threw down his wicket.

Ben Smith came and went, contributing only nine runs in a 15-run stand with Scragg, before he was caught by Chris Nevin from the bowling of James Franklin for nine. Franklin bowled unproductively for the remainder of the day and is lacking the rhythm he showed at times last season.

Scragg was out when Central were 153/2, bowled by Jeetan Patel who had previously dismissed Kelly and who ended the day with 3-80 from 31 overs. Patel bowled with beguiling flight and only a little turn, particularly into the wind, and he drifted one through Scragg's previously impenetrable defence, knocking off his leg bail.

Jamie How was out for 0, then Sulzberger and Griggs added 51 for the sixth wicket before Sulzberger's dismissal for 56 - the innings' highest score. He had batted 164 minutes and hit seven fours.

Griggs carried on positively, striking two sixes from Patel's bowling over the long leg side boundaries. His was an innings which progressively tipped the match Central's way or at least took some of the initiative from Wellington.

Andrew Schwass further defrayed the deficit when he took 24 from 44 balls before stumps. He had added 15 with Brent Hefford, who was two not out at the close.

Wellington's medium pace attack functioned poorly for much of the day. Its leader, Andrew Penn, was twice removed from the attack after being warned for running on the pitch while bowling with the wind at his back. He bowled with some economy, conceding only 29 runs from 17 overs, but did not always compel the batsman to play a shot.

© CricInfo