Cricket: Greatbatch on great form

Cricket

Greatbatch on great form

A swashbuckling century by the opening batsman Mark Greatbatch highlighted the opening day's play of the New Zealand cricketers' tour of India in Rajkot yesterday. Greatbatch rode his luck - he was dropped three times at 39, 127 and 137 - to hit 138 of his side's 366 for five declared against the Indian Board President's XI. The President's XI replied with 24 for one by the close. Greatbatch, involved in century partnerships for the first and second wickets, hammered 18 fours and three sixes. He put on 128 with Bryan Young, who made 52, and 149 with Adam Parore (79) and was eventually stumped off the leg-spinner Narendra Hirwani, who was the home side's most successful bowler with two for 69 from 26 overs. When the President's XI replied, they lost Vikram Rathore, bowled by Danny Morrison for six in the final over of the day and closed on 24 for one.