This was a day to remember for Chris Harris, Chris Martin, Shane Bond and Aaron Redmond

Peter Hoare11-Dec-2001This was a day to remember for Chris Harris, Chris Martin, Shane Bond and Aaron Redmond. It was one to forget for Northern Districts who were 128 for eight at the close in reply to Canterbury’s 444.According to coach Michael Sharpe, Canterbury’s plan at the start of the day was extend their first innings to 450. This was almost achieved, but not in the way that was expected.Three wickets fell in the first hour, all as a result of aggressive shots by batsmen who were supposed to be supporting the main act, Harris.While this was happening Harris spent more time than he or his team would have wished at the non-striker’s end. The balance was redressed when he was joined by Martin, one of cricket’s true No 11 batsmen.Harris went to great lengths to protect his partner. He took an anorexic attitude to the diet of easy singles fed to him by ND. The field moved in for the fifth ball of most overs like a well-rehearsed formation dance team. It was not a great spectacle, but extended the Canterbury innings into the afternoon session, adding 75 precious runs.Martin will talk about his 25 for years to come. It is his highest first-class score (previously 13). He has now scored more runs in first-class cricket than he has taken wickets, for the time being, at least.But it is Chris Harris to whom the batting glory should go. The 52 runs he added today took almost as long as yesterday’s century. He lacked his previous fluency and touch, but today’s runs were arguably the more valuable.Sharpe was full of praise for Harris. “He’s a run machine at the moment. The longer New Zealand ignore him the more use we get out of him. He adds experience to the side and is able to bat with the top or the lower order.”Harris’ reputation as a one-day specialist means that his consistency with the bat in domestic cricket is often forgotten. On form, he should come into the Test team if any of the established middle order are injured.ND had to score 295 to avoid the follow-on. This should have been eminently achievable, but it soon became hard to believe that ND were batting on the surface enjoyed by Harris and Martin.The initial difference was the speed of Bond. Two wickets in two deliveries from Bond devastated the ND top order.James Marshall, who had been discomforted by Bond’s pace throughout, was bowled for one by the last ball of the seventh over of the innings. From the first ball of the ninth Mark Bailey was lbw, not very far forward.Bond struck again in his second spell, his extra pace and bounce finding Matthew Hart’s glove, sending a catch to Harris at fourth slip. Hart scored a dogged 23.Sharpe told CricInfo that agreement had been reached with Black Caps coach Denis Aberhart that Bond would be used in short spells. His figures of 13-5-35-3 serve the interests of both Canterbury and New Zealand, warming him up nicely for next week’s Test match.Sharpe says that Bond is a better bowler after his tour of Australia. “He has gained some yards in pace and he is even more confident than when he left. He’s a different player.”If Bond’s performance was expected, Redmond’s was not. The leg spinner finished the day with three for 22, dismissing Hamish Marshall, Grant Bradburn and Joseph Yovich.”It was the captain’s decision to bring him on,” explained Sharpe. “He has bowled reasonably well without luck so far this season. Today he turned a few early on and his confidence grew. It was his day.”Unless the weather intervenes, Canterbury should record a second victory to follow their first in 18 matches, last week.