In a tense and exciting finish North Otago denied South Canterbury the luxury of an outright victory in the Cyclone Hawke Cup elimination match played at Centennial Park over the weekend.
It was a match of mixed fortunes with North Otago winning the toss on the first day and Bob Wilson, the North Otago captain, asking South Canterbury to bat on a pitch which had been affected by rain during the week.
At lunch after 40 overs had been bowled it looked as though the gamble had paid off for South Canterbury was 77 for the loss of 7 wickets. There was little in the pitch for the medium pacers but North Otago's Ian Chapman made a sensational start.
Peter Crombie, his left arm opening partner bowled a maiden over to open the South Canterbury innings and then in a storybook beginning Chapman had Barrie Andrews clean bowled with his first delivery and then had incoming batsman Barry Ward leg before with the next ball to have South Canterbury none for the loss of 2 wickets.
Of the top order batsmen, Gary Austin made 20 but lower down the order part time batsmen and medium paced bowlers Steve McFelin proved that the bowling had few dangers when he settled the innings down and when the innings closed at 123 he was unbeaten on 43.
With former Taieri player Lindsay Hewitson, McFelin added 29 for the eighth wicket and then received invaluable assistance from Bruce Carlaw (19) as the duo added 34 for the ninth wicket.
Chapman returned excellent figures off his 16 overs and 4 balls taking 6 for 25 while Peter Cook off 15 overs 8 of which were maidens finished the innings with 3 for 37.
The North Otago batsmen could not build on the valiant work of the bowlers and after losing Bruce McGregor in the third over lost wickets consistently to collapse completely and be all out for a meagre 58 with left arm off spinner Phil D'Auvergne proving to be the nemesis of the North Otago batting line-up.
Bob Wilson top scored with 17, the only North Otago batsman to reach double figures while D'Auvergne variation of flight and pace plus the turn he was obtaining saw the North Otago batsmen apparently unable to concentrate and cope.
The innings was wrapped up in 49 overs with D'Auvergne bowling 24 of those to take 5 for 14, 13 of those overs were maidens. Barrie Andrew's plugged up the other end and his off spun deliveries netted him 3 for 9 off 12 overs.
Sunday morning saw South Canterbury inspired by a fine 81 from Barrie Andrews cruise through to 163 for the loss of 5 wickets before declaring leaving North Otago the task of scoring 229 to win.
The target did not appear to be beyond the reach of the North Otago batsmen. Openers Bruce McGregor and Phil Collings gave the side a grand start but then with the total of 58 without loss McGregor was brilliantly caught and bowled by D'Auvergne diving full length to his left to grasp the ball centimetres from the turf after McGregor had tried to straight drive a ball from the South Canterbury captain.
Lindsay Robertson attempting to force the pace without settling in completely misread a delivery from D'Auvergne and was caught flatfooted meters out of his ground to be stumped by Ward three balls later and then continue the debacle Collings then on 37 and looking solid was caught by John Davies to make it 68 for 3.
Worse was still to come. Seven runs later Chris Taylor who had been there for 7 minutes without scoring was Davies second victim in the field giving D'Auvergne his third wicket in 4 overs.
More was to follow for in the final ball of that D'Auvergne over Peter Cook was clean bowled to send North Otago to 75 for 5 and the end imminent.
Bob Wilson and Graham Johnson had other ideas and showed just what could be achieved by sound defence and the profitable use of the loose delivery.
In a sixth wicket stand of 91 this pair swung the game back in North Otago's favour but just when it look as though they had reach a century partnership and possibly guide North Otago to victory, for there were amble overs left, disaster in the form of that man D'Auvergne struck again.
Wilson holed out caught by Bruce Carlaw to the first ball of D'Auvergne's 21st over. The batsmen crossed at the dismissal and the next ball Johnson tried to hit out of the ground and was stumped by Ward.
Wilson making a fine 34 which contained 5 fours and a six while Johnson added 47 with 6 fours and a six.
The ball was back in South Canterbury's court and D'Auvergne piled on the pressure. Peter Brown went 8 runs later to be followed soon by Graeme Ballantyne with no addition to the score.
The last pair Peter Crombie and Ian Chapman saw the side through to a finish which had spectators completely absorbed as the visitors attempted to get that last wicket.
Defending grimly as the appeals came thick and fast the pair saw North Otago through denying South Canterbury the outright.
D'Auvergne was South Canterbury's man of the match taking 7 for 81 with Harvey King and Andrews taking a wicket each.
Short Scorecard(s)
Representative - Cyclone Hawke Cup - Zone Series
South Canterbury vs North Otago at Centennial Park, Oamaru
South Canterbury 123 ( S McFelin 45no, G. Austin 20, B. Carlaw 19, L. Williams 15, I. Chapman 5-25, P. Cook 3-37 )
North Otago 58 ( R.S. Wilson 17, P. D'Auvergne 5-14, Andrews 3-9, King 2-12 ) & 171-9 ( G. Johnson 47, P. Collings 37, R.S. Wilson 34, B. McGregor 17, P. D'Auvergne 7-81 )
First innings win to South Canterbury
Full scorecard for the match