At McLean Park, Dane Cleaver went from 189 to 201 in the space of just three deliveries, and in the process put a ding in his uncle's car.

One of the two sixes that he smacked off Mitch Santner to reach his first first-class double century in double quick time headed straight for the cars parked in a small viewing area between the bank and Harris Stand, where a few Tickner/Cleaver/Williamson family and friends were aggregated - as an apologetic gesture on video footage from the keeper-batsman will attest.

It was all forgotten moments later when he raised the bat for the fourth time in his innings.

It had been a pretty good day for the family all-round with Cleaver's cousin, Kane Williamson, earlier having led the BLACKCAPS to their 100th Test win at the Basin, a famous win against India.

Cleaver, the Stags' longtime keeper-batsman, has been in hot form in all formats this summer - having already produced another Ford Trophy hundred, together with a big first-class century for New Zealand A, his first for a New Zealand representative side.

He's now averaging over 50 in red-ball this season.

Cleaver brings up his 200 with a six off Santner | PHOTOSPORT

Today's knock was all the more personally significant because of that New Zealand A performance, little more than three weeks ago - when he scored a brilliant but bittersweet 196 at Hagley Oval against the shadow India Test side.

Left kicking himself over the way he got out - going for the boundary with a repeat hook shot, it was an emphatic first-class career best with a slight halo of regret hovering above it.

This time - against international spinners Santner and Ish Sodhi, another BLACKCAP in paceman Scott Kuggelelijn and ND's sometimes underestimated seamer Jimmy Baker, there would be none of that.

He dominated stands of 57 for the fifth wicket with Ben Smith; 81 for the sixth with Brad Schmulian; 54 for the seventh with Willem Ludick and the remarkable 95 for the eighth with Blair Tickner for a total of almost six hours at the crease.

The first 50 came off 86 balls (9x4) before lunch, the hundred (his second first-class ton of 2019/20 and fifth for the Stags) off 138 balls (14x4, 1x6) early in the middle session.

He reached 150 - with some sterling support and adventurous running between the wickets from Blair Tickner - just before tea, off 190 balls (17x4, 3x6), going past his previous first-class best for the Stags of 151*.

Promoted to nine after having spent the bulk of his career at 11, Tickner would also show his big ticker with his best batting effort yet for the Stags. He scored 26 in more than an hour and a half at the crease, in an eighth-wicket partnership that came close to a century stand (95) before his dismissal. His all-time best was an unbeaten 30* for NZ A last summer.

 

The pair had gone to tea with Cleaver on 161*. It was an invaluable contribution in the context of the game as the Stags overcame the untimely loss of wickets - and kept going long enough to build a substantial lead.

Tickner's dismissal by Sodhi after tea saw Seth Rance join Cleaver on 181*, but the new man's swift departure left Cleaver hunting for that magic milestone now with just one wicket in hand.

Young Ray Toole had the honour of accompanying his fellow Manawatu representative, and had to deal with just five deliveries himself before Cleaver - by now blasting away regularly at the other end with the end surely nigh - galloped through his 190s in three balls: 201 off 222 balls, 342 mins, 18 boundaries, eight sixes.

Never mind that he was out next ball: this time, his timing was immaculate.

He took his side from 173 for four to 482, a first innings lead of 211 for a team hungry to get their season back on track.

Time to get behind the sticks and when ND then lost their first two wickets in the last hour and a half - Tickner claiming Henry Cooper with his third delivery and Seth Rance stopping Tim Seifert - guess who was involved in both dismissals.

It was a busy day for Cleaver who gathered in two outstanding chances - running a country mile to pouch the sky-high offering from Cooper.

It was his day.

The Stags have taken the maximum eight bonus points from the first innings. ND will begin their fourth and final day at 10.30am this Tuesday in Napier at 64/2, still trailing by 147 runs in the second innings and looking to avoid the early wickets that could put the Stags right on target for a 20-pointer.

SCORES

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Article added: Monday 24 February 2020