North Otago lost its third successive zone five U-Bix Cup cricket match when it succumbed to Southland by seven wickets at Queen's Park in Invercargill in the weekend.

A lack of application by North Otago's top order batsmen, especially in the first innings, cost the visitors any chance of winning the two-day match. North Otago was forced to follow-on late on the first day after being dismissed for 144 and from that point Southland were in control.

Craig Hore, batting at first drop, scored a useful 43 and Campbell Ogilvie made 30 but otherwise it was a disappointing batting performance by North Otago.

"There was not enough dedication many of the batsmen made a start and then got themselves out. The wicket was good for batting so there were not excuses," North Otago selector-coach, Gavin Laird said this morning.

Medium pacer, Mark Scully, bowled well taking five for 17 off six overs but otherwise the Southland attack was nothing daunting, Mr Laird said.

The top order batting failed again the second innings as North Otago struggled through to 105 for six in its second innings. Only a determined fight back by tail enders Ali Fanene, John Crombie and Gordon Lemon enabled North Otago to reach 256, giving it an overall lead of 115.

Crombie top scored with a well complied 59 and featured in 50 run partnerships with both Fanene (25) and Lemon (41).

Mr Laird said Crombie showed the tenacity which was needed in the top order batting and proved there was nothing threatening in either the wicket or the Southland bowling.

Southland lost only three wickets before reaching its target in the 33rd over with opener Allan Thompson scoring a stylish 59 not out, Richard King had earlier batted brilliantly scoring 123 in Southland's first innings of 285.

Ogilvie and David Sewell were the best of North Otago's bowlers in both innings with Ogilvie finishing the match with five wickets and Sewell taking four.

North Otago completes its U-Bix Cup season with a game against South Canterbury at Centennial Park on January 28-29.

Short Scorecard(s)

Representative - U-Bix Cup - Zone Series

North Otago vs Southland at Queen's Park, Invercargill
North Otago 144 ( C. Hore 43, C. Ogilive 30, K.J. Mansfield 28, Scully 5-17, Heads 2-13 ) & 256 ( J.B. Crombie 59, D.J. Drew 41, G. Lemon 41, M. Wilson 35, A. Fanene 25, K.J. Mansfield 13, C. Hore 12, T. Ward 5-95, Heads 3-29 )
Southland 285-8dec ( R. King 123, P. Cowan 48, S. Brown 39, T. Ward 31no, J. O'Connell 17, C. Ogilive 4-70, D.G. Sewell 3-58 ) & 116-3 ( A. Thompson 59no, R. King 18, S. Brown 14, M. Scully 13no )
Southland won by 7 wickets
Full scorecard for the match