North Otago hung on for a draw in the final representative match of the season against Southland played at Surry Park over the weekend. North Otago batted first and made a disastrous start losing its first two wickets with only one run on the board.
The third fell at 16 and the fourth at 38 but Ian Laird, making his debut, and Norm McKenzie gave the side some stability with 34 for the fifth wicket.
Laird was finally out for 24 while McKenzie went on to make 55. However, the side never really regained its momentum and was eventually dismissed for 146.
Owen Ramsay was the most successful Southland bowler, taking five for 27 while John Wilson claimed three for 15.
Kevin Burns and Kevin Gentle, the Southland openers, gave the side a great start putting on 80 in the opening stand before burns was cleaned out by Taylor. Then the game swung North Otago's way quite dramatically. With the total of 95 Southland lost the wickets of Gentle, Ward and Hoskin. Two further wickets fell before the total reached 121 but due to some stout batting by wicketkeeper Brent Crawford , the Otago Shell Player Garth Dawson, Southland slowly gained the initiative with Dawson compiling 46 before he was dismissed and Crawford at the declaration was not out 55.
Southland eventually declared at lunch on the second day.
Chris Taylor produced a marathon bowling spell getting through 46 overs, 18 of which were maidens, taking four for 66, while Norm McKenzie took two for 32, and Graeme Ballantyne two for 37.
North Otago merely batted out the rest of the day being 146 for six at stumps with Norm McKenzie completing a good double with 43 while Chris Taylor was not out on 39.
Short Scorecard(s)
Representative - Hawke Cup - Zone Series
North Otago vs Southland at Surrey Park, Invercargill
North Otago 146 ( N.W. McKenzie 53, I. Laird 24, C. Taylor 15, G. Johnston 14, D.W. Reid 11, Ramsay 5-27, Wilson 3-15 ) & 145-6 ( N.W. McKenzie 43, C. Taylor 39no, I. Laird 25, R. Breen 11, Lindsay 3-22 )
Southland 223-9dec ( B. Crawford 55no, G. Dawson 46, K. Gentle 41, K. Burns 36, O. Ramsay 12, C. Taylor 4-66, N.W. McKenzie 2-32, Ballantyne 2-37 )
First innings win to Southland
Full scorecard for the match