New Zealand's Cricket Academy made full use of the head start it made to the season last week, and the batting skill of Chris Cairns, to beat Central Districts by 79 runs in a 40-over match at Lincoln Green today.

It was the only day of four scheduled days for CD at Lincoln University after bad weather in the Canterbury region.

The Academy side batted first at CD's request and lost Brendon McCullum who misjudged an inswinger from the fourth ball he faced, from Ewen Thompson, while fellow opener Jamie How was defiant for 50 minutes before being trapped leg before wicket by Brent Hefford.

However, Shanan Stewart and Nick Horsley regained some initiative for the Academy in a 66-run third wicket stand in only 52 minutes. Stewart was first to go when caught at deep backward square leg on 31 when picking up a ball from off spinner Campbell Furlong.

Horsley was in full cry however, and he put together 86 at almost a run a ball before he was out to Thompson's bowling having hit two sixes and 10 fours.

Any hopes CD had that they had gained the breakthrough were soon allayed when Cairns took control. Michael Mason was on the receiving end at one stage when in the space of seven balls, Cairns scored 22 runs, including three sixes. He raised his 50 off only 33 balls with four sixes and five fours.

Cairns finished 84 not out, scored off 41 balls and he ended with seven sixes and seven fours. He found a solid ally in Nathan McCullum who scored 28 off 24 balls as 83 were added off 47 balls.

It took only 19 minutes for the Academy side to move from 200 to 250 and at the end of 40 overs the Academy were 266/6. All of CD's bowlers took a pasting with Thompson the only bowler to take more than one wicket with his two for 48 from seven overs.

The Academy bowlers were miserly in their approach and only 30 runs came in the first 10 overs and by 20 overs the score was only 61/1. David Kelly and Peter Ingram scored 98 in 78 minutes for the second wicket. Both batsmen fell to Nathan McCullum's spin bowling for 50 runs while Furlong retired on 35, scored off 30 balls.

Time and overs ran out for the CD batsmen and the score was 187/5 when the 40 overs were completed. Nathan McCullum finished with two for 34 from his six overs. Cairns had none for 19 from his five overs.

© CricInfo