Otago opener Aaron Redmond has picked up right where he left off.
The former Black Cap scored back-to-back hundreds in the opening first-class game last season. Yesterday, he posted a century and combined in a huge partnership with Michael Bracewell to help put his side in a strong position at stumps on day one of its season-opening Plunket Shield game against Wellington at the Basin Reserve.
Redmond got through to 154 before he edged a delivery from Andy McKay through to the keeper.
It was his highest first-class score, passing his previous best by two runs, and helped Otago reach 358 for three.
Bracewell shared some of the limelight with Redmond, reaching 107 before he was bowled by Jeetan Patel.
The pair combined in a massive 217-run stand but fell short of the long-standing Otago record for the second wicket of 254, set by Kevin Burns and Ken Rutherford against Wellington in Oamaru in 1987-88.
Scoring hundreds in his first two innings last summer set Redmond up for a fabulous season. He finished the season as the competition's leading scorer and his haul of 941 runs (at an average 55.35) was the second highest season tally by an Otago batsman. Glenn Turner's 1027 runs (at 85.58) has remained at the top of the list since 1975-76.
Redmond felt he had Turner's record in his sights and is hoping yesterday's century will provide a platform for another attempt at it.
''I just want to go out there and score as many runs as I can get,'' Redmond said.
''But, yeah, that would be a nice thing to break.''
The experienced right-hander has now scored 10 first-class 100s for Otago (14 in total) but still gets nervous in the 90s. It seemed to take forever for Redmond to move from 95 through to the milestone. Eventually, he broke the shackles, dispatching a delivery from Mark Gillespie to the boundary.
''I was thinking the same thing myself. I felt like I was never going to get there.
''I had a few opportunities as well. There were a few half volleys floating around but I kept hitting it to the field.''
Bracewell's fine knock was his second first-class century. The left-hander, who made his debut in 2010-11, broke through the barrier with a terrific innings of 190 last summer. He had previously been dismissed in the 90s twice.
Patel was perhaps the best performed of the Wellington bowlers. The offspinner laboured into the wind and finished the day with one for 70 from 24 overs. Brent Arnel also toiled hard into the breeze.
Gillespie was at the other end of the spectrum. The Black Caps seamer went wicket-less and coughed up 95 runs. He shapes as the mostly likely candidate to register the next ton, although Jesse Ryder, who is on debut for Otago, might also get there.
He spent most of the day padded up watching Redmond and Bracewell bat but maintained his concentration.
Wickets often fall in clumps after a long partnership, but Ryder did not fall victim to the trap. He is undefeated on 48 and Sam Wells (5) is at the wicket with him.
