Wellington, March 12 NZPA - A solid 134-run opening partnership between Rob Nicol and Michael Papps saw Canterbury through to a useful 218 for four after the first day of their Plunket Shield four-day cricket match against Otago in Queenstown today.

However, medium pacer Mathew Harvie swung the momentum slightly back Otago's way when he picked up a bonus wicket on the last ball of the day, Johann Myburgh dismissed for 33 after edging the ball through to wicketkeeper Derek de Boorder.

Nick Beard, who picked up career-best figures of six for 107 last week against Auckland, was again to the fore after Otago won the toss and elected to bowl in a rain-shortened match which didn't start until 1pm.

In just his 10th first class match, the 20-year-old orthodox left-arm spinner finished with miserly figures of 1-38 off 23 overs, battling into a stiff southerly breeze for much of the day.

As an added bonus, Beard broke the ominous opening partnership between Nicol and Papps when he trapped Nicol in front for 42 as the 45th over drew to a close.

Three overs and two runs later, Sam Wells removed Papps in similar fashion, leaving Canterbury 136 for two at tea. Papps hit 11 fours in his 83, which came off 139 balls.

Beard also featured in Peter Fulton's dismissal when the Canterbury captain was on 25, taking a tricky catch in the swirling southerly a metre or so inside the square leg boundary.

Stumps were drawn with Myburgh's dismissal, leaving Dean Brownlie not out on 19.

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