Continued on in fine weather - a direct contrast to the that of the opening day - the first series of matches in the annual country week cricket tournament was completed yesterday, Metropolitan beating Central Otago by seven wickets and North Otago holding Southland to a draw.

The days play was distinguished by a mammoth score of 371 by Southland in reply to North Otago's first innings of 299 and a fine spell of bowling W. Gale, the Metropolitan medium-pace swing bowler, who took six Central Otago second innings wickets for 29 runs.

The feature of Southland's innings were a fine knock of 79 by opening batsmen K.J. O'Connor and a whirlwind seventh-wicket stand of 108 in 70 minutes by G.D. Alabaster (72) and J.C. Alabaster (49).

North Otago's attack could not cope with the onslaught, for the key bowlers were tired before these two came together.

North Otago batted a second time and in the hour or so left for play scored 52 for four. Southland's P.H. Barton looked a bowler of class in this period, taking three wickets for 31 and having a couple of chances missed as well.

A Metropolitan team will play a Combined team today and tomorrow.

This combined team is: J.C. Alabaster (captain), G.D. Alabaster, R.A. Holloway, K.J. O'Connor, L. Hollands, P.H. Barton (Southland), R.L. Long, C. Buttar (Central Otago), A.G. Cartwright, C. Bedford (North Otago) and Papps.

Short Scorecard(s)

Representative - Hawke Cup - Zone Series

Southland vs North Otago at Logan Park, Dunedin
North Otago 266 ( W.B. Kerr 65, G. Cowles 57no, R.J. Mason 29, K. Murray 25, J. Stevenson 22, B. Bedford 21, A.G. Cartwright 11, Morton 5-61, G.D. Alabaster 4-83 ) & 52-4 ( I. Nicol 13, W.B. Kerr 11, Barton 3-31 )
Southland 371 ( K.J. O'Connor 79, G.D. Alabaster 72, J.C. Alabaster 46, N.R. Thompson 45, L.D. Hollands 33, E.C. Morton 24no, P.H. Barton 16, G.T. Buist 13, R.A. Holloway 11, W. Cubbit 3-55, A.G. Cartwright 3-102, K. Murray 2-25 )
First innings win to Southland
Full scorecard for the match