An inspired spell of spin bowling from Brendon Domigan enabled Otago Country to clinch first innings points in its Hawke Cup cricket match against North Otago at Molyneux Park yesterday.
North Otago was cruising at 129 for four wickets in reply to Otago Country's first innings of 206 when Domigan, who had been accurate but unable to penetrate with his sharp medium-pace, switched to spin.
His tactics transformed the game as he took five for 15 from his next six overs and North Otago lost its last six wickets for 29 to trail on the first innings by 48 runs.
He was able to get the ball to turn and bounce and he completed a fine double when he claimed four for 54 in North Otago's second innings to finish with match figures of nine for 81 from 24 overs.
He also excelled with the bat yesterday, scoring 52 of 55 balls and adding 120 in 102 mins for the third wicket with James Pyle before he was run out when he lost his footing.
Pyle also had a fine match. He top-scored in the first innings with 68 off 98 balls. And yesterday he raced to 94 off 115 balls.
Otago Country's second innings of 255 for nine declared left North Otago 304 to win.
It was never a realistic option, but as Otago Country chipped away and wickets fell, there was the possibility it could collect 6pts for an outright win.
But captain Jarrod Waldron stood firm and was unbeaten on 73 of 92 balls at the end. He also dominated North Otago's first innings, scoring an unbeaten 79 from 156 balls.
It continued his golden summer with the bat - he scored 121 and 179 in consecutive games against Southland - and he was effective with the ball claiming five for 42 in Otago Country's first innings.
Former New Zealand pace bowler David Sewell, who had 98 wickets for North Otago before the match, claimed his 100th when he had Otago Country opener Brayden Hill lbw in the second innings.
The pitch was slow, dry and with some variable bounce - there were 10 lbw decisions among the 35 dismissals - but it did not deteriorate to any extent yesterday.
Opener Corey Blair scored a well-made 53 of 91 balls in the Country first innings, Hayden Finch had a solid all-round game, but in the end time (and Waldron) denied Country an outright win.
Points in the Hawke Cup series (with games played in parentheses) are: North Otago 12 (3), Southland 6 (2), Otago Country 6 (1).Short Scorecard(s)
Representative - Hawke Cup - Zone Series
North Otago vs Otago Country at Molyneux Park, Alexandra
Otago Country 206 ( J. Pyle 68, C. Blair 53, E. Standfield 21no, J.M. Waldron 5-42, C.J. Ware 3-42 ) & 255-9dec ( J. Pyle 94, B.J. Domigan 52, Andrew 33, J.R. Cutt 3-80, P.M. Odell 2-22, D.G. Sewell 2-50 )
North Otago 158 ( J.M. Waldron 79no, R.L. Smith 17, N.R. Mitchell 12, Dommigan 5-27, Finch 3-57, Standfield 2-20 ) & 149-6 ( J.M. Waldron 73no, G. Paterson 16, N.R. Mitchell 11, Domigan 4-54 )
First innings win to Otago Country