Mark Richardson hits ton for Kiwis

Mark Richardson ground out a patient century as New Zealand started the first class section of their tour of South Africa against Boland in Paarl outside Cape Town on Tuesday.

The left-handed opening batsman made an unbeaten 118 in a New Zealand total of 273 for five at the close of play on the first day of the three-day match.

It was Richardson's first innings in South Africa after arriving in the country Friday. Another tour debutant, Mathew Sinclair, made an attacking 86 and dominated a second wicket stand of 113 with Richardson.

Both players joined the tour to play in the first class games, which include three Test matches. The first Test starts in Bloemfontein November 17.

Offspinner Paul Wiseman sprained his left ankle while warming up before the match. He was replaced by Scott Styris. Wiseman went for x-rays but the results will not be available until Wednesday.

Richardson, 29, has developed a reputation for making big scores on tours. A retreaded spin bowler who was a late developer as a batsman, he made a double century against Sussex while touring England with New Zealand A last year. He topped that with a career-best 306 against Zimbabwe A in Kwekwe on his first tour with the full New Zealand team in September and then made 99 in the second Test against Zimbabwe in Harare.

Richardson hit only two boundaries in his first fifty, made off 136 balls, but hit six more in reaching his century off 255 balls. By the close he had faced 308 balls and hit ten boundaries.

Sinclair, by contrast, hammered 13 fours and a six in his 86 off 120 deliveries before skying a catch to deep midwicket off the offspinner James Henderson.

Another tour newcomer, Hamish Marshall, made 38 but Craig McMillan and Adam Parore, who played during New Zealand's 5-0 limited overs series defeat against South Africa, both failed.

Mail Cricket Editor