The 15-Test international career of Blair Pocock, the Auckland opening batsman, was not notable for his supply of good luck with form, selectors and injuries, so he was entitled to a critical piece of good fortune at the start of the Shell Trophy match against Northern Districts at the Eden Park Outer Oval today.

Pocock won the toss, took the risk of batting first on a frisky pitch, was dropped from the first ball he faced, and went on to score 123 from the Auckland total of 238 for two wickets from the 78 overs which rain allowed.

Pocock's main support came in a 175-run stand for the second wicket with John Aiken, who had laboured close to five hours for his 84 not out.

With rain showers early in the day, and eventually causing an hour-late start and another interruption before lunch, the scene was set for bowling mischief on the greenish pitch.

So Daryl Tuffey leaped for joy when his second ball seamed away, lifting as it took the edge of Pocock's bat and seemed set directly for James Marshall's hands at third slip.

But the ball hit Marshall's hands awkwardly, bounced to the ground, and the whole ND side seemed to sag in despair.

They were hardly enchanted either when two streaky edges gave Pocock boundaries through a slip field of four men, plus a gully.

Tim McIntosh had no good luck, expertly taken low down at first slip by an agile 34-year-old Grant Bradburn, and Pocock and Aiken were happy to escape to the safety of lunch at 19 for one wicket after 12 twitchy overs.

After lunch the rain went away, a warm sun took the sting from the pitch, and Pocock settled into lordly command, with Aiken diligently plugging away at the other end.

In the past Pocock has often looked dour, even stodgy at the crease, given to strange batting moods. Today he was like a fresh summer breeze, full of handsome strokes, especially his trademark driving through extra cover or midon. He added the extra flourish of some classical drives and cuts from the back foot.

Afterward Pocock confessed he felt he was batting better now than in his international career in the mid-90's, when his progress was so often marred by injuries - and unhelpful selectors.

Aiken, now 30, was earmarked at an early stage as international material, but some selectors were less than obliging, and his career languished until he moved from Wellington to Auckland.

On yesterday's evidence, Aiken's left-handed batting style looks as solid as Gibraltar, but like Pocock he probably considers that his name is no longer in the national selectors' little black book.

Pocock batted 236 minutes for his 123, hitting 20 fours from the 174 balls he faced. Aiken has already been in residence for nearly five hours, and the fact he hit 15 fours suggests that he waited a long time before he scented a boundary shot.

The ND bowling, menacing amid the showers in the morning, lost much of its sting under the afternoon sun. The pitch still played tricks, but Tuffey, Joseph Yovich, Graeme Aldridge and Bruce Martin all lacked the accuracy of line and length that might have slowed Pocock's regal progress.

The ND fielding was aggressive and sometimes exceedingly good - but the memory of that missed catch from Pocock must have haunted them all the day.

© CricInfo