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In-form Papps hits ton for New Zealand
New Zealand opener Michael Papps put his poor form aside to knock an impressive ton for New Zealand against Kent in a tour match on Thursday.
New Zealand opener Michael Papps put his poor form aside to knock an impressive ton for New Zealand against Kent in a tour match on Thursday.
But it still may not be enough for him to win selection for next week's first test against England should captain Stephen Fleming, as is expected, recover sufficiently from an abdominal strain.
Papps took full advantage of two lives to share a double-century stand with Mark Richardson as the New Zealanders piled up 297 for two by the close against a Kent attack lacking regular fast men Mohammad Sami and Martin Saggers.
The 24-year-old, whose poor form on tour to date encouraged the New Zealand management to consider captain Fleming as an opener, was put down on both occasions in the slip cordon and prospered thereafter.
Having scored just seven in his first three first-class innings of this tour, Papps lacked fluency initially and survived a straightforward chance to Rob Ferley at second slip on 23 off young pace bowler David Stiff.
Kent captain David Fulton then floored a more difficult slice to first slip, high above his head, when left-armer Alamgir Sheriyar angled the ball across the compact right-handed opener, on 34.
Papps reached his ton with a pulled four off Sheriyar, a shot contrasting sharply to the start of his innings when he got under way with an edge to the third-man boundary off Amjad Khan.
He jolted his way through the teens before tucking into the expensive Stiff, the England Under-19 bowler, who left Yorkshire to join the Kent staff for the 2004 season.
Hotly-tipped Stiff overstepped in his delivery stride 20 times throughout the day, and his inconsistency with line allowed Papps - who made his debut at Test level this winter - to find the cover boundary off both front and back foot.
He brought up his half-century shortly after lunch and accelerated as two leg-stump half-volleys were despatched to the square-leg boundary off the towering Stiff.
Richardson was more circumspect in his approach, reaching his landmark from 139 deliveries, after stand-in captain Chris Cairns, leading the team in Fleming's absence, won the toss.
Since arriving in Britain just under a fortnight ago, the Kiwis have been followed by the inclement weather, restricting their competitive action.
But the opening pair took full advantage of a full day's play, taking their 244-run stand, a new record for New Zealand's first wicket against county opposition, well into the final session.
