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Clarke delivers timely ton
07:45, Mar 19 2010
Michael Clarke put all his off-field dramas behind him to notch an unbeaten century as Australia took charge on the opening day of the first Test against New Zealand in Wellington.
The Australia vice-captain, whose recent high-profile split from model Lara Bingle was played out in the full glare of the media, was given a respectful welcome by the Basin Reserve crowd when he came to the crease with Australia at 115 for three.
And loud applause followed when he celebrated reaching three figures in the penultimate over of the day.
After taking 16 balls to get off the mark, Clarke made nine off 45 deliveries by tea but stepped up the pace in the final session to bring up his fifty in 103 deliveries.
He then took just a further 38 balls to bring up his 14th Test hundred, which included 10 boundaries and two sixes.
At stumps he was 100 not out with Marcus North unbeaten on 52, the pair having put on 140 runs as Australia ended the day 316 for four.
Up until the late flourish from the Clarke, Simon Katich (79) had led the scoring for the visitors after Ricky Ponting won the toss and chose to bat.
In the first two sessions New Zealand had largely been able to keep the Australians in check with some good tight, accurate bowling with seamer Brent Arnel having a debut to remember with the wickets of opener Phillip Hughes (20) and Katich.
Daryl Tuffey (none for 35 off 16 overs) and Daniel Vettori (none for 69 off 21) were the most miserly but went unrewarded.
The New Zealanders struck twice in the first hour of the afternoon session, getting the key wickets of Ponting (41) and Michael Hussey (four).
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Cold snap affects sporting weekend 15:45, Feb 11 2012
The cold snap continued to wreak further havoc with the sporting calendar on Saturday after the npower Championship clash between Peterborough and West Ham was postponed due to a frozen pitch along with a number of League One and League Two matches. more
Rangers ease to win at Dunfermline 15:45, Feb 11 2012
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