Opening batsman Peter Fulton scored a maiden Test century at the age of 34 seven years after his debut to guide New Zealand to 250 for 1 at stumps on Friday on the first day of the third Test against England. Fulton batted through the entire day after England won the toss and bowled,reaching 124 not out by stumps in a 171-run,second-wicket partnership with Kane Williamson (83 not out). Fulton was 41 not out at lunch,after a 79-run opening stand with Hamish Rutherford (37) and he continued through the last two sessions to accumulate runs at a steady pace,putting on 94 runs in the second session with Williamson and 77 in the third. Steve Finn was the only Englishman with a wicket,with figures of 1 for 61 at stumps. Sometimes you can search for the wickets too much and look too far ahead, Finn said. We went past the edge a fair amount today and were a little bit unlucky. After taking 6 for 51 in New Zealands first innings in the second Test,Stuart Broad was promoted to share the new ball with James Anderson and Finn was demoted to first change. But Broad never settled to a productive line and Anderson,struggling after the Wellington Test with heel and back problems,was limiting but rarely threatening. Monty Panesar bowled 25 overs,entering the attack in only the 21st over when the England seamers had been blunted. At stumps he had still taken only two wickets in the series at a cost of 122 runs apiece. Were only one day into a five-day game,and weve gone at less than three-an-over, Finn said. Wed have liked to take more wickets,obviously,after winning the toss. But the fact they are only 250 on a wicket that didnt offer us too much,or much at all,was a good effort. Fulton made his Test debut in 2006 and played 10 Tests,with a highest score of 75 and an average of 20,before losing his place in New Zealands revolving door for Test openers. He won a recall for this series,four years after his last Test,and cemented his place Friday with an innings of technique and character. Fulton became only the second New Zealander,after Zin Harris in South Africa in 1962,to score a maiden century after turning 34. He had made sound contributions throughout the series - scoring 55 in New Zealands only innings in the drawn first Test at Dunedin and 45 and 46 in the second Test at Wellington,which also ended in a rain-affected draw. Fulton reached his half century in 145 minutes from 109 balls and his century in 256 minutes,from 203 balls - the second 50 more swiftly than the first. He went to 99 with a pull for four off Finn,the 14th four of an innings which,at that stage,also contained three sixes. Ive played a few Test matches now and havent been able to get a century, Fulton said. I guess if Im being brutally honest at the start of this season I thought maybe my time had come and gone. So to get that Test 100 and cross that off the list is a great feeling. Williamson provided outstanding support to Fulton through the longest part of the day. After the opening partnership with Rutherford,which blunted the threat of the new ball,Fulton and Williamson drove home Englands folly at bowling after winning the toss. Brief scores: New Zealand 250 for 1 in 90 ovs (P Fulton 124 n.o,K Williamson 83 n.o,H Rutherford 37; S Finn 1/38) vs England
