Wellington, Nov 24 NZPA - Northern Districts pace bowler Tim Southee tore Wellington's first innings apart when he grabbed eight wickets on the opening day of their Plunket Shield four-day cricket match at Hamilton today.

Wellington, with useful contributions of 69 from Josh Brodie, 88 from Cameron Merchant and 58 by Luke Woodcock were 241 for six at one stage after tea. But Southee ripped through the lower order to have them all out for 263.

His eight wickets cost just 27 runs from 25 overs that included 12 maidens.

It was his fifth first class five-wicket bag and surpassed his previous best figures of six for 68 against Auckland in the 2007/08 season.

Wellington, sent in to bat after losing the toss, were in early trouble at 27 for two after Southee removed skipper Matthew Bell with nine runs on the board and Joseph Yovich dismissed Neil Parlane for one.

But the in-form pair of Josh Brodie and Cameron Merchant patiently restored order by adding 110 runs together before Southee drew an edge off Brodie which wicketkeeper Peter McGlashan pouched.

Brodie's 69, his third first class 50, followed a 103 in his previous match against Auckland.

Left hander Merchant, who scored 108 against Auckland as a makeshift opener, featured in another fruitful partnership with Woodcock.

The pair put on 124 for the fifth wicket after Harry Boam became Southee's third victim, departing cheaply for four.

Merchant, a former Northern Districts batsman, stroked 11 boundaries in a patient knock of 88 off 207 balls which lasted 12 minutes short of four hours.

Woodcock, who hit nine boundaries for his 58, misjudged a Brent Arnel delivery which knocked his stumps over. It was his 15th first class half century and followed last week's 64 not out against Auckland.

Southee then took centre stage as he delivered McGlashan his fifth catch of the innings, sending Daniel Bowden off for a duck before dismissing Joe Austin-Smellie for three, Malaesaili Tugaga for a duck and and Michael Burns for four.

At stumps, Northern were six for no wicket with BJ Watling and Brad Wilson to resume tomorrow.