Chris Drum confirmed on Saturday there might something radically wrong with the New Zealand selection system that seems to have completely forgotten him.

In a first grade match against Ellerslie (67) Drum took 7-8 for leading side, Birkenhead (147-8) and while the opposition might have been fairly moderate there was no question that the tall medium-fast bowler was fired up and bowled superbly.

Drum has bowled well for Auckland in recent matches but is obviously so far from the thoughts of Sir Richard Hadlee and company that he might as well retire to a remote nation and look for an international game there.

The game played at Birkenhead was delayed by an errant sprinkler that wet the pitch enough to prevent a start for three hours. That was enough to stoke Drum up to the absolute dismay of his opposition.

Drum's performance would have delighted the Auckland selectors no end as they ready for the Shell Trophy match against Central Districts on Thursday. They would also have noted Mark Haslam's 7-62 for East Coast Bays (28-1) against Cornwall (205).

But if the A team players were performing well there was even more to celebrate among the eleven players who formed the second XI this season.

Waitakere City's brilliant 19-year-old, Richard Pudney was left undefeated on 174 when his side made 270-4 in replay to Eden Roskill's 156. Wicketkeeper, Reece Young scored 107 for Suburbs New Lynn (292) against Takapuna (7-0) and Tane Topia smacked 73 for Grafton (238) in a top of the table clash against Parnell (29-3).

Added to these performances was 7-37 by Brad Neilson for Howick Pakuranga (114-5 declared) against North Shore (112 and 4-1) and a fine innings of 110 by Trent Emtage for University Akarana (302) against Papatoetoe (46-2).

Games are to finish today (Auckland Anniversary Day)

Premier grade. – (Round 6, first day of two) North Shore 112 (G Andrews 50; B Neilson 7-37) and 4-1 v Howick Pakuranga 114-5 dec (S Barnes 30; S Sharp 3-34) Grafton 238 (T Topia 73, G Coleman 57; P Vujnovich 4-29) v Parnell 29-3 Cornwall 205 (A Barnes 58, R Thompson 50, D Storer 30; M Haslam 7-62) v East Coast Bays 28-1. Suburbs New Lynn 292 (R Young 107, J Vujnovich 65, D Cederman 46, D Eliaba 35; R Smith 5-65) First grade. – University Akarana 302 (T Emtage 110, I Aitchison 58, N Smeeton 44) v Papatoetoe 46-2 Ellerslie 67 (C Drum 7-8) v Birkenhead City 147-8 (T Crabb 37, A Wright 35; K Baker 5-62. Eden Roskill 156 (I Isaiah 41, S Lala 31; S Naidu 3-35; N Ronaldson 5-78) v Waitakere City 270-4 (R Pudney 174no).

© CricInfo