North Otago beat Southland on the first innings in the Hawke Cup challenge elimination match played at Awamoa Park over the weekend.

North Otago ran up a first innings total of 240 on a hard wicket. Southland had to bat on a wicket affected by overnight rain in an attempt to even the score.

Southland was dismissed for 119. Following on, Southland had scored 235 for nine at stumps.

North Otago won the toss and captain B. Papps elected to bat.

North Otago started slowly. J Smith, one of the middle-order batsmen, livened up the match by hitting 10 fours and three sixes in an interesting innings.

The tail-enders were polished off quickly by Southland's medium pacers, Ashby and Vear. North Otago's total went from 202 for only three wickets, to 240 all out.

In Southlands first innings, J. Vear was the only batsman to offer real resistance. He scored an impressive 50.

Between them A. Cartwright and G. Cowles claimed eight wickets for 59 runs for North Otago

In Southland's second innings seven batsmen reached double figures.

A. seventh wicket partnership by J. Barrie and N. Thompson helped the side with a fine 71 runs.

Short Scorecard(s)

Representative - Hawke Cup - Zone Series

Southland vs North Otago at Awamoa Park, Oamaru
North Otago 240 ( J.O. Smyth 80, B.R. Papps 37, R.S. Payne 36, G. Cowles 23, R. Bowman 19, Ashby 4-45, Vear 3-54, G.D. Alabaster 2-50 )
Southland 119 ( D.J. Vear 50, R.A. Holloway 26, R. Rae 13no, L.D. Hollands 11, A.G. Cartwright 4-26, G. Cowles 4-28, C. Taylor 2-37 ) & 235-9 ( J. Barrie 60, N.R. Thompson 36, G.D. Alabaster 28, W. Lindsay 27, R.A. Holloway 24, R. Rae 17no, K.J. O'Connor 16, A.G. Cartwright 3-53, G. Cowles 2-50 )
First innings win to North Otago
Full scorecard for the match