Southland proved too strong for North Otago in the annual cricket representative match, winning by an innings and 26 runs. A century to G. Alabaster paved the way to North Otago's defeat.

Southland was given a good start by R. Halloway and K O'Connor, and when Holloway was bowled by Cartwright, the score stood at 71. S Moran and L. Hollands both batted soundly, but Alabaster's hard-hit 124 not out, highlighted the innings.

Never in trouble to any of the bowlers, he cracked 10 fours and two sixes away to the boundary.

Cartwright and Cubitt were the most dangerous of the North Otago attack, although the batsmen were in control throughout.

Taiaroa and Murray gave the visitors a good start, but a middle innings slump saw them all out for meagre 128. Medium-pace bowler B. Barclay was the destroyer, taking eight wickets for 35 runs. He was backed up in the field by some excellent catching and fielding.

Sent in to bat again, North Otago was away to another good start and had 50 runs on the board before K. Murray was dismissed after a forceful innings of 34 runs.

B. Bedford went for his shots in his innings of 28, but apart from the last wicket pair of N. Darragh and W. Cubitt, the other batsmen were unable to handle the medium pace deliveries of S. Morton, who took six for 24, with some accurate bowling.

Short Scorecard(s)

Representative - Hawke Cup - Zone Series

North Otago vs Southland at Queen's Park, Invercargill
Southland 317 ( G.D. Alabaster 124no, R.A. Holloway 48, A.R. Wills 38, K.J. O'Connor 34, L.D. Hollands 29, S.G. Morton 22, W. Cubbit 2-44, A.G. Cartwright 2-59, R.J. Mason 2-86 )
North Otago 128 ( R.N. Taiaroa 48, R.J. Mason 23, R. Golden 16, K. Murray 13, B. Bedford 12, B. Barclay 8-35 ) & 163 ( K. Murray 34, B. Bedford 28, A.G. Cartwright 21, R.N. Taiaroa 17, R. Golden 14, N. Darragh 14no, W. Cubbit 13, J. Stevenson 11, G. Morton 6-24, Barclay 2-35 )
Southland won by an innings and 26 runs
Full scorecard for the match