Stephen Murdoch's sixth first-class century helped Wellington gun down 307 to secure a remarkable four-wicket victory against Canterbury in Christchurch. Murdoch drilled 12 fours and four sixes, as he scored an unbeaten 155 off just 164 balls to help the team recover from the early loss of Michael Papps in the fourth innings. Murdoch first put up a 56-run stand for the second wicket with Brady Barnett, before combining with the captain
James Franklin for a fourth-wicket association that yielded 156 runs. Franklin was the more aggressive foil in that partnership, muscling four fours and three sixes to hit a 54-ball 75, as Wellington kept scoring at more than five an over to ace the big total 61 overs.
Their victory was made all the more impressive by the fact that Canterbury had themselves batted for almost 44 overs on the final day before declaring at 407 for 7. Their innings was built around a 119 from
Henry Nicholls, while Greg Dawson, Andrew Ellis and Cam Fletcher chipped in with fifties.
It was a marked improvement from their effort in the first innings, as Canterbury, having been inserted, were shot out for just 242 thanks to three-wicket hauls from Ili Tugaga and Brent Arnel. Wellington then enforced their advantage, scoring 343 to secure a crucial 101-run first-innings lead. Papps top-scored with 67 and Franklin made 62, but the team was also helped by handy contributions throughout the line-up.
Canterbury quickly wiped away that deficit on a rain-interrupted third day, and when they decided to declare on the final day having amassed a strong total, they would have backed themselves to succeed. Murdoch, though, had other ideas.