Two international discards proved their enduring worth at first-class level as the penultimate round of the Plunket Shield cricket competition produced one outright result which propelled Canterbury atop the standings.
Canterbury were rewarded for a sporting declaration as they beat competition easybeats Auckland by 28 runs, a result which thrust them into the lead on 33 points, four ahead of Central and Northern Districts.
The title remains very much on the line heading into the last round starting on Monday, when Canterbury host Northern Districts, Central are at home to Auckland and Otago play Wellington.
Otago's Aaron Redmond and Central Districts opener Peter Ingram raised significant milestones to help their teams earn draws against Northern Districts and Wellington respectively.
They both scored centuries in each innings of their side's matches, Redmond's 115 over 400 minutes against Northern at Hamilton following his first innings of 122 and leaving him as just the sixth Otago batsman to achieve the feat.
Like Redmond, Ingram also enjoyed a brief international career before his deficiencies were exposed at the top level, but he remains a consistent and heavy rungatherer for Central, as evidenced by his innings of 143 today at the Basin Reserve in the capital.
Having posted 135 in the first innings, the 32-year-old right-hander backed up with a fluent knock in his second visit to the crease, to register centuries in each innings of a match for the second time in his career.
After resuming this morning on 54 alongside debutant Ben Smith, Ingram belted 26 boundaries from just 136 balls before being deceived by offspinner Jeetan Patel.
By the time he was dismissed Central were 211 for three, having earlier lost Smith for 55 as he and Ingram put on an association second record stand against Wellington of 204 runs.
Tim Weston then scored 51, Kruger van Wyk 45 and Mathew Sinclair 41 not out to put the game beyond reach for Wellington, who agreed to end the match when Central declared at 366 for six after tea.
In Hamilton, Redmond's defiance was instrumental in Otago saving their game against Northern Districts at Seddon Park.
Otago resumed this morning under pressure at 93 for three, still trailing overall by 77 runs, but Redmond helped considerably to ease any nerves as he put together a quality innings.
His standout performance was ably supported in the middle and lower order by Darren Broom, who scored 53, Derek de Boorder, 47, Neil Wagner, 39 not out, and Ian Butler, 32 not out, with their collective efforts frustrating Northern's attack before the match was called off with Otago 343 for six.
Auckland gave their victory target of 289 a decent lick on home turf at Colin Maiden Park before tailender Chris Martin was dismissed with the second new ball as they were clinging on for a draw.
A career-best 71 from 22-year-old Brad Cachopa raised Auckland hopes after they had slipped to 137 for five but his departure at 255 for eight effectively settled the matter.
Canterbury had earlier closed their second innings at 231 for eight declared, leaving the home side a generous 289 to score off 89 overs.
Skipper Peter Fulton's hunch was eventually proven to be the right one as legspinner Todd Astle collected four for 96 off 28 overs while Struan George took three for 55 and seamer Andy Ellis chipped in with the last two wickets.
