Ish Sodhi bowls for New Zealand at Seddon Park, where he took seven wickets in domestic cricket on Monday.

Unwanted Black Caps spinner Ish Sodhi has headlined the first ever day of day-night Plunket Shield cricket.

He took 7-107 off 33 overs with the pink ball against Central Districts at the spin-friendly Seddon Park in Hamilton. It was his second-best first-class figures, behind only a haul of 7-102 against Otago in February last year.

Other highlights from the day included Wellington captain Michael Papps cracking the first day-night century in New Zealand domestic cricket, raising his bat just minutes before Canterbury's Andy Ellis did likewise against Auckland at Eden Park.

ROSS GIBLIN/FAIRFAX NZ Wellington's Michael Papps plays a shot against Otago at Westpac Stadium on Monday night.

But the day belonged to Sodhi, with the 24-year-old showing what the New Zealand team will be missing when they face South Africa in the first test starting in Dunedin on Wednesday.

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With New Zealand coach Mike Hesson seeking improved first-class performances from Sodhi, the leggie was a handful for all the Stags batsmen as they reached 272-9 before declaring to bowl at the hosts under lights for over half an hour.

ROSS GIBLIN/FAIRFAX NZ Wellington's Michael Papps is out lbw off the bowling of Otago's Anaru Kitchen for 105.

Sodhi was introduced with the pink ball after 13 overs and immediately proved troublesome, despite Central getting through the first two hours unscathed at 85-0.

He had a number of lbw appeals turned down before removing Ben Smith (25) and Greg Hay (90).

Will Young failed to keep out a wrong'un and while Tom Bruce survived a concerted lbw appeal first ball, he only got to four before the sweep shot also proved his downfall. Dane Cleaver and Ajaz Patel perished lbw and Seth Rance became his seventh victim.

ROSS GIBLIN/FAIRFAX NZ Wellington's Michael Papps salutes the crowd after bringing up his century on Monday night.

Knocks of 72 from George Worker and a useful 51 not out from Adam Milne - playing his first match for almost a year and only his 14th game in whites for CD since his debut in 2009/2010 - edged CD to their total.

Young's declaration proved a masterstroke when Seth Rance ripped through Northern's top order. First, he trapped Joe Carter in front with the first ball of the second over and bowled Bharat Popli with the fourth.

Then, he got Henry Cooper and Joe Walker in his fifth over, the 10th of the innings, for figures of 4-6 off six overs as ND finished the day at 28-4.

ROSS GIBLIN/FAIRFAX NZ Otago's Michael Rae bowls the pink ball against Wellington on Monday night.

The early limelight was taken by Papps, who played a watchful knock against Otago at Westpac Stadium, taking 29 balls to get off the mark. His patience persisted throughout his innings as he brought up his century off 214 balls. He was trapped lbw by Otago spinner Anaru Kitchen a short time later for 105.

The wickets fell at regular intervals at the other end from Papps, until the normally aggressive Tom Blundell also turned his hand to occupying the crease with 53 not out off 148 balls.

Wellington ended the day at 252-5.

Canterbury started poorly against Auckland, reaching 25-4 after 13.2 overs as their openers, Chad Bowes and Jack Boyle, were both dismissed for ducks, before Peter Fulton and Cole McConchie added just five and six respectively.

But Ellis led the fightback, ably supported by Ken McClure.

Ellis starting quickly, bringing up his half century off 78 balls, but took another 95 balls to reach his century before falling midway through the night session for 103.

McClure held up the other end with a stoic 92 off 259 balls, seeing off an Auckland attack which featured Black Caps quicks Lockie Ferguson and Mitchell McClenaghan. It was part-timer Colin Murno who eventually trapped him in front as the clock neared 9.30pm.

Canterbury were 305-8 at stumps.

With rain forecast across much of the upper North Island over the next three days, the Wellington-Otago game might be the only pink ball match destined for a result.

PLUNKET SHIELD, DAY ONE

At Westpac Stadium in Wellington: Wellington 252-5 (M Papps 105, Tom Blundell 53no, M Pollard 34no; M Rippon 3-65) v Otago.

At Seddon Park in Hamilton: Central Districts 272-9 (G Hay 90, G Worker 72, A Milne 51no; I Sodhi 7-107) v Northern Districts 28-4 (S Rance 4-6).

At Eden Park in Auckland: Canterbury 605-8 (A Ellis 103, K McClure 92, T Johnstone 43; C Munro 3-40) v Auckland.