Neil Broom swept all before him as the State Otago Volts held the upper hand over State Canterbury Wizards in their State Championship match in Invercargill.
Broom scored an unbeaten 140 as Otago progressed from their overnight 234 for five before being dismissed for 352 on the third afternoon of the four-day match at Queen's Park.
Canterbury responded unconvincingly by stumbling to 145 for five by stumps, with first innings points up for grabs tomorrow.
Broom's fifth first-class century left the Volts in a strong position to gain first innings points in a match seriously affected by rain on the opening two days.
Walking to the crease this morning on 62, the 25-year-old stayed on top of the Canterbury attack, striking 21 fours from 222 balls faced in an innings which lasted a touch over five hours.
The Canterbury bowlers toiled hard, with seamer Leighton Burtt the standout.
Having gone wicketless yesterday, Burtt captured five for 64 off 13 overs to finish the innings with figures of five for 119 off 26 overs.
Canterbury's response was undermined by left-arm seamer Neil Wagner, who quickly removed opener Todd Astle, Andrew Ellis and Johann Myburgh.
Astle and Myburgh departed without reaching double figures while Ellis at least made 30.
Offspinner Nathan McCullum then accounted for Shanan Stewart for 19 before trapping Michael Papps leg before wicket for 53, leaving Corey Anderson, on 19 not out, and captain Kruger van Wyk, 11 not out, to see their side to stumps.
Wagner was the most successful bowler, taking three for 36, while McCullum had two for 39.
NZPA
