A superb maiden first class century by Waitaki High Scholl's skipper Andrew Hore almost brought North Otago a first innings win over South Canterbury in a U Bix Cup elimination match played at Timaru over the weekend.
North Otago's Ian Chapman won the toss and decided to put South Canterbury in to bat.
It must have been a decision that Chapman rued at lunch when South Canterbury completed the first session of play scoring 101 runs without the loss of a wicket.
The opening stand between Jeff Dawe and Mike Hawke realised 116 runs before Dawe was out for 32.
Robin Herron and Hawke added a further 18 runs before Ashley Flannery had Heron caught by John Crombie for 5.
Greg De Joux joined Hawke and this pair added a further 29 runs before De Joux was cleaned bowled by Mark Julius for 15.
Hawke however scored magnificently over the North Otago bowling attack and featured in a fourth wicket stand with John Davies of 78 before the Temuka Vicar was finally dismissed fro 126 being clean bowled by Andrew Hore who later in the day was to emulate the feat of Hawke.
South Canterbury batted through to 269 for four before declaring the innings closed with John Davies unbeaten on 46 and Warren Eddington there on 13.
Ashley Flannery off 18 overs took two for 43 while the other wicket takers were Andrew Hore (1-37) and Mark Julius (1-74).
North Otago was soon in trouble when it opened its innings.
Speedster Havey King had Nigel Cartwright leg before in his second over with only one run on the board and then six runs later had David Reid retreating to another leg before decision.
Further disaster struck when Flannery the incoming batsman was caught by Greg Ritchie off Eddington's bowling for only four and North Otago had slumped to 11 for three.
This brought Hore and McGregor together and with Hore immediately assuming the role of senior partner added 43 runs for the fourth wicket before McGregor was out for 15 scored in 85 minutes.
As the North Otago batsmen tumbled around him Hore stood like Horatius at the bridge defying the South Canterbury attack.
Gary Tempero stood by his side as a further 14 runs were added for the fifth wicket.
Kelvin Mansfield was the sixth wicket to fall with the score at 86 and it looked as though North Otago would be lucky to reach three figures.
But then out of adversity came what proved to be the turning partnership.
John Crombie joined Hore and the duo set about the South Canterbury attack adding 56 for the seventh wicket before Crombie after a gutsy inning was out for 28.
Mark Julius hung around for 45 minutes as the total went through to 183.
Ian Chapman lasted 15 minutes as a further nine runs took the tally to 192.
When Trevor Robertson joined Hore it looked like it was all over, but tenth wicket stand of 56 carried North Otago to first innings win.
Hore, who had batted in all for 279 minutes, was finally out leg before, the fifth of the innings, for a superb 139.
Included in the innings were 18 boundaries.
The North Otago innings finally closed at 248 only 22 runs short of the first innings success.
For South Canterbury, Warren Eddington took four for 66 of 24 overs while Harvey King off 18 claimed three for 39.
North Otago's next U Bix Cup match will be against Central Otago in Oamaru on December 18 and 19.
The side will, however, be without three of its players. Andrew Hore, Ashley Flannery and Nigel Cartwright who will be away at the national under 20 tournament representing Otago.
Short Scorecard(s)
Representative - U-Bix Cup - Zone Series
North Otago vs South Canterbury at Aorangi Park, Timaru
South Canterbury 268 ( M. Hawke 126, J. Davies 46no, J. Dore 32, G. De Joux 15, W. Eddington 13no, A. Flannery 2-43 ) & 17-2 ( J. Dore 11no, I. Chapman 2-14 )
North Otago 248 ( A. Hore 139, J.B. Crombie 28, B. McGregor 15, W. Eddington 4-66, H. King 3-39 )
First innings win to South Canterbury
Full scorecard for the match