Auckland Aces batsman Colin Munro smashed 281 on day one of their Plunket Shield four-day cricket match against the Central Stags at Napier's Nelson Park on Tuesday.

Munro was in devastating form from the moment he strode to the crease.

He came in with the Aces in bother at 64-2 and departed with the score at 435-4, having belted the Central bowlers to all parts of the ground.

Munro's first 50 came up off 30 balls with his century off 68 balls. He upped the tempo from there, his double century taking only 133 balls. In all, his 281 came off 167 balls and included 17 fours and a rollicking 23 sixes.

Munro found a couple of able assistants in Carl Cachopa and Rob O'Donnell.

He put on 157 for the third wicket with Cachopa before he departed for 65. O'Donnell took up the support role and the pair put on 214 for the fourth wicket - the partnership only ended when Munro was caught by Dane Cleaver off part-time spinner Tom Bruce.

There was little in the way of returns for the Central bowlers with Ben Wheeler the best, picking up two wickets off his 21 overs at a cost of 58 runs. International Doug Bracewell was one to suffer being smashed for 113 off 22 overs, while newcomer Blair Tickner fared no better going for 116 off 15 overs. At least, he had the satisfaction of picking up one wicket.

Auckland resume at 471-5 with Central facing an uphill battle to save the match.

AT A GLANCE

Plunket Shield, day one

Central Stags vs Auckland Aces

Nelson Park, Napier

Auckland Aces

First innings

J Raval c C van Wyk b S Rance 33

A Kitchen c G Worker b B Wheeler 9

Carl Cachopa c G Hay b B Tickner 65

C Munro c D Cleaver b T Bruce 281

R O'Donnell lbw b B Wheeler 42

D Grobbelaar not out 19

B Cachopa not out 8

Extras (1lb, 2w, 11nb) 14

Total (for 5 wickets, 92.0 overs) 471

Fall: 1-20, 2-64, 3-221, 4-435, 5-441.

Bowling: D Bracewell 22-3-113-0 (2nb), B Wheeler 21-7-58-2 (1w, 8nb), S Rance 18-5-64-1 (1w, 1nb), B Tickner 15-2-116-1, G Worker 10-1-80-0, T Bruce 5-0-30-1, G Hay 1-0-9-0