Dipak Patel, the Central Districts cricket coach, wants the national selectors to keep a close eye on his star batsman, the 22-year-old David Kelly whose 99 not out kept Central Districts afloat during the second day of the State Championship match against Auckland on the Eden Park Outer Oval today.

Kelly has already built a very useful run-scoring record for Central Districts in four-day and one-day matches, including a 570-minute unbeaten double century throughout the first CD innings against Canterbury at Blenheim last season.

"David has shown he can score runs," said Patel, the former New Zealand all-rounder. "He has also shown, especially today, that he can defend and concentrate very effectively. He has all the shots, but he is the only one of our batsmen who has really stood up and performed well under difficult conditions against Auckland."

Patel said he was not looking at Kelly as an immediate candidate for the troublesome opening position in the New Zealand team.

"He might not be at that stage, yet," said Patel, "but he is getting closer. "I think David would be an excellent prospect, say, opening the batting for New Zealand A, and gaining valuable experience.

"I hope the national selectors are keeping an eye on him, he has so much determination to succeed."

Patel had his wish granted yesterday for Ross Dykes, one of the national selectors, has watched the first two days of the Eden Park match. However, neither he nor Kelly were available for comment last night.

Kelly, born in Dunedin but now living in Hawke's Bay, has fashioned solid batting figures in his short career. Before this season he has scored 1122 first-class runs, with a single and double century, average a respectable 35.06. He scored 617 runs, average 38.56 in Shell Trophy matches last summer.

He also has a one-day century in the 710 runs, average 25.35, he has scored in 29 Shell Cup matches.

There were many strange statistics in Kelly's staunch stand which cut back the domination Auckland had gained in the first four sessions of the match. One was his 99 has already taken him 284 minutes, longer than the first innings from Central Districts (231 minutes) and Auckland (257 minutes). In his 99 were 16 fours - and the other 14 CD innings in the game so far have reached a total of 11.

© CricInfo