North Otago fell 27 runs short of a first innings win over South Canterbury in a U Bix Cup elimination match played at Centennial Park over the weekend.
The feature of North Otago's performance on the final day was the batting of Michael (Bush) Dodd who came to join Norm McKenzie when the eighth wicket fell with North Otago battling on 129.
Dodd and McKenzie stayed together to take the side through to 180 before Dodd was finally out, caught by Lindsay Hewitson off the bowling of Keith Williams for 39, the top score in the innings.
What made Dodd's effort more commendable was the fact he pulled a hamstring whilst fielding on the first day and was so restricted he had to utilise the services of a runner while batting.
Dodd's 39 included seven fours and he was at the crease 60 seconds short of an hour.
Norm McKenzie played the sheet anchor role as North Otago fought to pick up first innings points.
He came in at the fall of the sixth wicket and he defied the South Canterbury attack for over two hours before his wicket was the last to fall for a well compiled 36.
North Otago captain, Graeme Ballantyne, won the toss and asked South Canterbury to bat on a pitch which was well grassed for Centennial Park.
North Otago had early success with Mark Julius having opener, Russell Drake leg before with the total at 21.
Paddy Bleach who had trouble with his run up, bowling seven no balls in all, struck shortly after the first hour and he had Warren Lidstone in similar fashion with the score at 34.
Robbie Vincent and Colin Attridge set about resurrecting the innings and took the side through to lunch at 86 for 2.
Vincent went shortly after lunch with the total at 99 and Attridge's long innings came to a close when he was caught behind by Nigel Cartwright off the bowling of Julius for 37. His innings last just three minutes short of three hours.
Ashley Flannery who had his first spell from the northern end was switched to the southern end of the ground and immediately struck when he picked up the valuable wicket of John Davies and two overs later removed Barry Ward to have South Canterbury 150 for 8.
Greg de Joux however was to be North Otago's nemesis and he was finally out for an excellent 55 and with Dave Todd had combined in an eighth wicket stand of 43 to take South Canterbury past the 200 mark. De Joux was at the crease for 81 minutes and his 56 included eight fours with his 50 coming up in 78 minutes.
The South Canterbury tail wagged a little in adding a further 13 runs before Keith Williams was leg before to Flannery for 4.
Flannery finished the day with the excellent figures of 5 for 38 off 24 overs, but the workhorse was certainly Mark Julius.
He opened the bowling with Bleach and part from one over from Michael Dodd midway through the first session of play he bowled unchanged for three hours, going to lunch having bowled 25 overs, taking 1 for 34. In all Julius bowled 39 overs, 14 of which were maidens and he took 3 for 76, certainly not a true indication of the quality of his bowling which saw him beat the edge of the bat on numerous occasions.
Paddy Bleach took 2 for 59 off 24 overs with his whippy left arm deliveries.
The North Otago chase started at 20 for six on the first day but the final period of play was to be one of disaster as the top order crumbled.
David Reid was unfortunately run out for 5 with the total at 11.
John Hills was clean bowled by De Joux in the gloom 20 minutes before stumps and then South Canterbury had the advantage well and truly rammed home for them when Nigel Cartwright was judged to be leg before to Hamish Kember, a left arm spinner bowling around the wicket. North Otago at stumps on the first day was 27 for 3. Graeme Ballantyne and "Tussock" Johnston added 45 for the fourth wicket before Johnson was out for 27. Flannery lasted only 30 minutes for 12 before his was the fifth wicket to fall with the total at 92.
Ballantyne's solid innings came to a close with the score at 114 with the North Otago skipper produced a tenacious innings of 35. Then in quick succession Mansfield and Bleach came and went before Dodd joined McKenzie and the pair almost turned the match around.
Lindsay Hewitson was the most successful bowler for the visitors taking 4 for 63 off 28 overs while Hamish Kember took 2 for 29 off 11 overs with the other wickets going to Greg De Joux (1-47), Keith Williams (1-10 off 16) and Dave Todd (1-38).
South Canterbury in its second innings was 70 for the loss of 4 wickets when stumps were lifted at 5.30pm on the second day. Mansfield finishing with 2 for 27 off 10 overs.
Short Scorecard(s)
Representative - U-Bix Cup - Zone Series
South Canterbury vs North Otago at Centennial Park Oval, Oamaru
South Canterbury 224 ( G. De Joux 55, R. Vincent 34, G. Attridge 31, J. Davies 26, B. Ward 21, W. Lidstore 15, A. Flannery 5-38, M.W. Julius 3-76, P.D. Bleach 2-59 ) & 70-4 ( C. Attridge 30, R. Vincent 13, W. Lidstore 11, K.J. Mansfield 2-27 )
North Otago 198 ( M.J. Dodd 39, G.J. Ballantyne 38, N.W. McKenzie 36, G. Johnson 27, K.J. Mansfield 15, A. Flannery 12, Hewitson 4-63, Kersher 2-29 )
First innings win to South Canterbury
Full scorecard for the match