Tom eclipsed Roger’s record but our Bert is still No 1 and No 2.
But for a hot minute, it looked as if Central Districts captain Tom Bruce was going to rewrite a major New Zealand cricket record.
The criminally underrated right-hander pounded 345 against Auckland at Eden Park Outer Oval during the first two days of the Plunket Shield fixture.
It was an extraordinary knock which included 36 fours and six sixes.
Bruce, who has played 17 T20s for the Black Caps, was going for it when he got strangled down the legside.
Bruce’s knock carried him past the 338 not out Roger Blunt scored for Otago against Canterbury in 1931.
But Bert Sutcliffe’s 385 remains the highest score in first-class cricket in New Zealand.
The late Otago left-hander has held the record since 1952.
It was some innings. Officials did not record the balls faced back then but they did log how long it took and he was at the crease for seven hours and 41 minutes — Bruce took nine hours 24 minutes.
Sutcliffe had previously scored 355 against Auckland in 1950 which remains the second-highest score.
Bruce’s mammoth effort enabled Central Districts to reach 700 for five declared — the fifth-highest team score in first-class cricket in New Zealand.
Auckland was 143 for three at stumps on day two.
At the Basin Reserve, Otago is closing in on parity with Wellington, who made 355.
The Volts lost a late wicket but are 265 for seven and trail the host by 90 runs at stumps on day two.
Wellington resumed at 297 for seven.
Peter Younghusband sent a delivery back over the bowler’s head for six in the third over of the day. He had resumed on 58 and got to 81 before he got an edge.
Matt Bacon got the breakthrough and he removed Nick Kelly as well to complete a five-wicket bag — just his second in first-class cricket.
Kelly had resumed on 118 and holed out for 134. Jarrod McKay bowled No11 Liam Dudding to finish with three for 71.
But Bacon was the best of the Volts bowlers. His five for 69 from 22 overs was a standout performance.
Otago openers Dale Phillips (36) and Jacob Cumming (29) put on 62.
But they perished on either side of the lunch break and Leo Carter (24) could not push on either.
He was trapped lbw by 21-year-old all-rounder Muhammad Abbas.
Thorn Parkes stitched the innings back together with an unbeaten 86 and will resume this morning chasing a second first-class ton.
In Hamilton, Northern Districts are 184 for four and lead Canterbury by 234 runs with six second-innings wickets in hand.
