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While much attention focused on Nathan Astle's return to the batting crease, he was upstaged by a splendid 85 from Hamish Barton for a Canterbury XI against the New Zealand under-19 team at BIL Oval.

Barton's innings was the cornerstone of the Canterbury XI's 327 for eight from 100 overs yesterday. His innings, off 102 balls, contained 15 fours.

Almost all the batsmen made starts on the new wicket which is being trialled for bigger matches, including a New Zealand A-South Africa first-class match in early March.

Astle, making a return to the middle after a month off with a broken hand, started a little scratchily against some short-pitched deliveries, but settled down to post 40 from 52 balls with five fours.

Canterbury was 268 for eight until Carl Anderson and Glynn Howell added 59 unbroken runs in the last hour, although Anderson was dropped twice.

Off-spinner Bruce Martin and left-arm pace bowler Leighton Hammond were the most successful of the under-19 attack which is preparing to face its England under-19 counterpart in three tests and three one-day games.

Short scoreboard:

Canterbury XI 327-8 (Hamish Barton 85, Nathan Astle 40, Robbie Frew 40, Craig Cumming 33, Carl Anderson 38no, Mark Hastings 28, Glynn Howell 22no; Bruce Martin 3-32, Leighton Hammond 2-36).