North Otago are firmly anchored to the bottom of the Hawke Cup cricket elimination series after conceding first innings points to Central Otago in their match in Alexandra at the weekend.
In a frustrating two days of cricket at Molyneux Park, Central Otago narrowed snatched the initial points before holding on for a draw as North Otago went in for the kill on the last afternoon.
North Otago's top order again delivered little in the first innings, with Glynn Cameron (31) the only contributor in the top four. Wicketkeeper Matt George (29) and Geoff Smith (29) put on 63 for the fifth wicket before Neil Rushton saved the visitors from a totally inadequate effort, chiming in with an unbeaten 56.
North Otago's 207 all out was testament to the bowling of Central Otago's Brett Paterson and Justin Clements, who took seven wickets between them.
The total looked substantial soon after as left-armers David Sewell and Rushton reduced the home team to nine for three. But a stubborn fourth wicket partnership of 82 between John Stephens (44) and Jason Mavor (29) swung the contest back into the balance.
Their good work was carried on by Nigel Harvey (35), wicketkeeper James Pyle (37) and captain Giles Bush (20) as Central Otago crawled towards a first innings lead.
Sewell and Rushton came back to try and clean up the tail, but the last partnership of Lindsay Scott and Russell Nevill, eked out the final few runs needed to take first innings points.
Sewell toiled for 25.4 overs for his four wickets, while Rushton and spinner Tim Geeves finished with two apiece.
The only was out now was outright victory, which the North Otago top order set about achieving in spirited second innings. Openers Antony Cromwell (25 from 34 balls) and George (23 from 32 balls) put on 48 for the first wicket, then Craig A Smith (18) and Cameron (23 not out) lent good support to captain Grant Billcliff as he bludgeoned an unbeaten 72.
They declared at 168 for three, to make Central Otago chase 163 for victory.
Central Otago started sedately after the loss of Hayden Hickey for one and looked content to sit on their first innings points. Sewell, Rushton and Geeves prised out one batsmen each as North Otago went for the outright win.
Mavor had other ideas, however and set about scoring briskly in pursuit of the total. But with the score at 98, he tickled a Geeves delivery through to George and North Otago were back in the hunt. Mavor's 42 runs came off just 44 balls in 45 minutes.
Unfortunately, North Otago managed to secure only six Central wickets, with Bush digging in in the final stages to be not out 16 in a total of 115 at the end.
Short Scorecard(s)
Representative - Hawke Cup - Zone Series
North Otago vs Central Otago at Molyneux Park, Alexandra
North Otago 207 ( N.W. Rushton 56no, G.R. Cameron 31, M. George 29, G.D. Smith 29, C.A. Smith 13, G. Strachan 13, Paterson 4-66, Clements 3-34, Bush 2-43 ) & 168-3dec ( G.J. Billcliff 72no, A. Cromwell 25, M. George 23, G.R. Cameron 23no, C.A. Smith 18, Paterson 2-31 )
Central Otago 212-9dec ( J. Stephens 44, J. Pyle 37, N. Harvey 35, J. Mavor 29, G. Bush 20, D.G. Sewell 4-61, T. Geeves 2-15, N.W. Rushton 2-59 ) & 115-6 ( J. Mavor 42, J. Pyle 16, G. Bush 16no, Geeves 2-20 )
First innings win to Central Otago
Full scorecard for the match