Spare a thought for State Wellington Firebirds opener Josh Brodie who went to stumps last night at the Allied Nationwide Finance Basin Reserve against the State Northern Knights on 99 not out and a tantalising one short of his maiden first class century.

Brodie had faced 258 balls and hit 11 fours and batted for just over five hours in his unbeaten 99, but had to wait almost five times as long last night and this morning in nervous anticipation to score the one extra run required to bring up his first hundred in the State Championship and the fourth by a Firebirds player so far this season.

So it was with joy and relief when he clipped the last ball of the third over of the morning to long leg for two runs and move to 101.

He scored his hundred in just his fourth State Championship match after making his Firebirds debut in March of this year against the State Central Stags. His previous highest score of 40 was made two weeks ago against the State Canterbury Wizards in the Firebirds’ first home of this season at the Basin Reserve.

His was a steady innings of patience and control against a committed and accurate Northern bowling attack. He calmly absorbed some anxious moments at the start and the end of his innings, following the loss of skipper Matthew Bell and a near run-out early on and the loss of two quick wickets late in the day when the Knights took the new ball.

In between, he batted in partnership with Grant Elliott for almost 60 overs, the pair adding 161 for the third wicket before Elliott was caught at second slip for a well compiled 78 off 166 balls.

The 21-year old Eastern Suburbs left hander went on to score 110 before pulling a short ball to mid on to end his innings. 

At lunch on the third day, the Firebirds had moved to 284 for 5, a first innings deficit of 26 after the Knights had made 310 in their first innings.

James Franklin (30 not out) and new batsman Luke Woodcock (20) had added 49 for the sixth wicket.