Worcestershire 2023 signing, Mitchell Santner, hit his career-best score in ANY form of cricket to help Northern Districts take control on day two of their Plunket Shield fixture with Central Districts at Mount Maunganui.
Santner, who will be playing for the Rapids in the Vitality Blast, struck 136 off 176 balls with four sixes and 18 fours.
It surpassed his previous best of 126 on the same ground for New Zealand in a Test match against England in December 2019.
The all-rounder then picked up two late wickets to complete the sort of memorable performance Rapids supporters will be hoping he can replicate in T20 cricket this summer.
Santner resumed on 75 not out and completed his fourth first class hundred off 145 balls.
He put on 81 for the seventh wicket with Colin de Grandhomme (54 not out) before being seventh out at 453.
Santner scored 61 off just 70 balls today, and he and de Grandhomme were largely responsible for Northern Districts adding 167 off 30.2 overs before being bowled out for 513.
Central Districts were reduced to 58-4 in reply, but then Brad Schmulian (79 not out) and Tom Bruce (67) added 125 before Santner made two breakthroughs in the penultimate over.
He had Bruce caught behind, and the next delivery accounted for Doug Bracewell (0).
The left arm spinner ended the day with figures of 13-1-32-2 as Central Districts closed on 190-6.
