A dramatic middle order collapse put an end to North Otago's hopes of a second consecutive win when they were beaten by Dunedin Metropolitan in Fuji Xerox cricket at Centennial Park yesterday.
Dunedin's comfortable 76-run victory was inspired by off-spinner Paul Wiseman, who put the brakes on any North Otago fight-back when he destroyed the middle order yesterday afternoon.
After winning the toss and opting to bat on Saturday morning, Dunedin posted 268 of 71 overs. An aggressive innings from left hander Andrew Hore provided much of the entertainment as he blasted 76 off 65 balls, including 12 fours and three sixes. Other notable contributions came from opener Randal Scott (23) and Graeme Green (23), while Wiseman remained unbeaten on 45.
Otago Shell Cup and New Zealand left armer David Sewell captured three wickets for 65 off 21 overs, while Waitaki Boy's High School student Andrew McNally, called in late at an unavailability took the first two wickets and finished with figures of two for 29 of nine.
In reply, North Otago recovered well from a potentially precarious 52 for four as Jeff Grubb (48) produced a 56-run fifth wicket stand with opener Keith Gardner. The home team stuttered through to 122 for six at stumps, Gardner unbeaten on 28 and Neil Rushton on four.
Gardner lasted just three balls into yesterday mornings play. Rushton's however, was the last wicket to tumble, falling when the score was 173 as North Otago narrowly brushed aside the follow-on by five runs.
Wiseman was again the most successful bowler, taking three for 67 off 22 overs.
Green set the innings alight in Dunedin's second stint with the bat, coming to the crease at 18 for one. He unleashed some powerful back-foot shots - including four pull shots which went for six, on his way to a fiery 80 off 69 balls.
The visitors were well on target when they declared at 165 for three, Hore on 41 and Scott Waide on 15.
Chasing 261 to win, North Otago made fine progress towards their target with left handers Gardner and Gerry Ward (60) putting on 125 runs for the second wicket.
However, at Ward's dismissal the wickets fell in domino-like fashion and North Otago never recovered. Jason Mavor (0), Mark Wilson (1) and Grubb (0) were dismissed within the space of three runs, while the last five batsmen scraped together just 49 runs between them as Wiseman went on the rampage.
Gardner emerged from a gruelling mental battle with the balls with 70 runs to his name, a shot across the line costing his wicket. He faced 168 balls in three and half hours at the crease.
North Otago were bowled out for 184. Wiseman finished with five for 58 off 21.
Gardner, North Otago's player-coach, said this morning his side's hopes had plummeted with the collapse in the middle order.
"When we got those for quick wickets for about 20 runs we could no longer chase the four or five runs an over we needed to win without taking risks. We decided we'd keep going for the win and we got bowled out.
"We were put under pressure form a slow start but considering we were 134 for one, we should've won. Dunedin bowled very well. They've got two of the country's best age group spinners in Paul Wiseman and Nathan Morland, but we proved again we are brittle when we come under pressure.
Gardner said the mental skills of batting would be targeted in the future.
North Otago finished the two day competition with losses to Dunedin and Southland and a five wicket win over Central Otago.
Short Scorecard(s)
Representative - Fuji Xerox Cup - Zone Series
Dunedin Metro vs North Otago at Centennial Park Oval, Oamaru
Dunedin Metro 268 ( A.J. Hore 76, P.J. Wiseman 45no, R. Scott 23, G. Green 23, A. Neilson 23, J.M. Allan 22, N.D. Morland 13, D.G. Sewell 3-65, A. McNally 2-29, K. Gardiner 2-56 ) & 165-3dec ( G. Green 80, A.J. Hore 41no, S.J. Waide 15no, J.M. Allan 12 )
North Otago 173 ( J. Grubb 48, N.W. Rushton 38, K. Gardiner 29, M. Wilson 13, R. Sidon 11, Wiseman 3-67, Neilson 2-16, Billcliff 2-23 ) & 184 ( K. Gardiner 70, G. Ward 60, N.W. Rushton 19, K.J. Mansfield 16, Wiseman 5-58, Billcliff 3-36 )
Dunedin Metro won by 76 runs
Full scorecard for the match
Player Pages:
Keith Gardner | Jeffery Grubb | Andrew McNally |