More top order batting woes for North Otago resulted in the end of their season in Oamaru yesterday.
With the middle and lower order batsmen doing most of North Otago's run-scoring, the home side fell to an outright loss in their final Hawke Cup southern zone cricket match by an innings and seven runs against Otago Country at Whitestone Contracting Stadium.
John Blakely's 69 not out, Nathan Mitchell's 61 and dogged batting from Brad Kernahan and Paul Odell in North Otago's second innings on day two could not save them from a big defeat.
Again the top-order failed after Otago Country posted 422-8 - an overall lead of 264 runs after North Otago stumbled to 158 just after lunch on day one - thanks to big centuries from Corey Blair and Cameron Rutherford, son of Ian and nephew Ken Rutherford, and declared on after the first hours play yesterday.
North Otago clearly missed the consistent and prolific run-scoring of captain Jarrod Waldron, who had amassed 460 runs in six innings, out for the rest of the season with a stress fracture in his right foot.
The top-four of James Cutt, Scott Simpson, Nick Webster and stand in captain Mark Patterson combined for 33 runs in the second innings. Simpson equal top-scored with Blakely on 34 in the first innings but excluding him the other top six scores read: 2, 5, 6, 3 and 1.
Pace bowler Ronnie Kotkamp was the terminator, taking 6-37 from 14.4 overs, including 4-19 in his second spell, in the first innings and 4-53 from 20 overs in the second innings to end the match with a 10-wicket bag, 10-90 from 34.4 overs.
Opener Blair had no problems with the under-fire pitch, the heat or the North Otago bowling attack, hitting 135 from 145, including 22 fours and one six, as he took the visitors through to 231-4. He scored his 50 off 70 balls and his century came up from 115 balls.
Rutherford was even more impressive, his 128 not out coming from 108 balls as he brought up his half-century from 41 balls, and three figures from 97 balls.
David Sewell took 3-84 from 23 overs in Otago Country's innings, giving the one-test international 17 wickets for the rep season. Brad Kernahan, in his first North Otago game this season, claimed 2-95 from an expensive 14 overs.
Blakely, who has previously played for North Canterbury, was North Otago's best with the willow, scoring 103 runs in two innings. Odell scored 20 and 37 in his two innings, while Sewell ended the first innings with an unbeaten 22.
North Otago won the toss and Patterson surprisingly, with a pace-heavy attack keen to take any early advantage from the wicket, chose to bat first, going against a team decision on Friday to bowl first if successful at the toss.
The result took Otago Country to the top of the Southern zone standings with 18 points, North Otago ending on 12 points. Otago Country sand Southland have two games remaining against each other to determine the champion.
Short Scorecard(s)
Representative - Hawke Cup - Zone Series
Otago Country vs North Otago at Whitestone Contracting Stadium, Oamaru
North Otago 158 ( S.A. Simpson 34, J. Blakely 34, D.G. Sewell 24no, P.M. Odell 20, Kotkamp 6-37 ) & 257 ( J. Blakely 69no, N.R. Mitchell 61, P.M. Odell 37, B. Kernahan 21, N. Webster 18 )
Otago Country 422-8dec ( C. Blair 135, C. Rutherford 128no, D.G. Sewell 3-84, B. Kernahan 2-95 )
Otago Country won by an innings & 7 runs
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North Otago 2007-2008 |