The failure of the North Otago top order batsmen was again evident as the team drew with the New Zealand Brabin XI at Centennial Park in Oamaru on Saturday and Sunday.
The Brabin team won the toss and elected to bat on a firm track. The openers R. Hart and A. Nathu, saw their team off to a slow but safe start before Hart was run out with his score at 21 and the team's safe start before Hart was run out with his score at 21 and the team's score at 36.
At 108 for two it seemed the Brabin score would be a big one. However, a fine spell of spin bowling by Chris Taylor kept the score down to 178.
Taylor finished with figures of seven for 37 off 17.3 overs. Of the other North Otago bowlers, Trevor Robertson bowled tightly to finish with none for 34 for 18 overs, Neville Donaldson finished with no wicket for 26, Peter Cook finished with no wicket for 24 and Graeme Ballantyne finished with one wicket for 45.
For the Brabin team, A. Nathu scored 52, D. Beard scored 38, R. Hart scored 21 and R. Brazendale scored 20.
North Otago finished the first day at 85 for six. Some good batting by Norm McKenzie and Bob Bowman enabled the North Otago score to end up at 140. McKenzie scored 37 and Bowman scored28.
For the Brabin team, D. Boyle finished with the fine figures of six for 73 from 29 overs. D. Stirling took one for 15, J. Jessop took one for five and G. McKenzie took two for 27.
The Brabin team declared its second innings closed at 152 for eight, leaving North Otago 191 to win the game.
Chris Taylor completed a fine double for the match by taking six for 67 in the Brabin second innings.
R. Hart made 52 for the Brabin side and I. Fisher scored 25.
North Otago never really looked like reaching the required total and finished at 75 for eight. Graeme Ballantyne with 18. Norm McKenzie with 12 and Bob Bowman with 13 not out were the only North Otago players to reach double figures.
For the Brabin team, D. Stirling took three wickets for 18. M Hayman took one for 17, D. Boyle took one for 18 and R. Brazendale took three for seven.
Short Scorecard(s)
Representative - Friendly -
New Zealand Brabin XI vs North Otago at Centennial Park Oval, Oamaru
New Zealand Brabin XI 178 ( A. Naithu 52, D. Beard 38, R. Hart 21, J. Jessop 17, R. Brazendale 16, C. Taylor 7-37 ) & 152-8dec ( R. Hart 52, I. Fisher 25no, D. Stirling 18, A. Nathu 17, J. Jessop 17, D. Boyle 11, C. Taylor 6-67 )
North Otago 140 ( N.W. McKenzie 37, R. Bowman 28, M. Ross 19, G. Johnson 15, C. Taylor 14, Boyle 6-73, McKenzie 2-27 ) & 75-8 ( G.J. Ballantyne 18, R. Bowman 13no, N.W. McKenzie 12, Brazendale 3-7, Stirling 3-15 )
First innings win to New Zealand Brabin XI
Full scorecard for the match