North Otago almost pulled off the impossible when it drew with Ashburton in a two day U Bix Cup elimination match at Centennial Park during the weekend.
North Otago, mainly through some fine batting from Michael Dodd, batted through to a first innings total at 175 with the two wickets adding 77 runs after North Otago slumped to 98 for 8.
Ashburton batted into the first session on the second day before its first innings closed for 276 and a North Otago slump prior to lunch on the final day put the ball solidly in Ashburton's court.
However newcomer Todd Patton resurrected the innings with a superb innings of 53 to give North Otago a meagre 121 run lead.
North Otago fought back valiantly in the final session and almost pulled of an upset with the local side requiring a solidity wicket and Ashburton still 12 runs short of outright points when the final ball was bowled.
North Otago put into bat by Ashburton made a dismissal start in its first innings, losing Graeme Ballantyne to the third ball of the match and then with the total at 3, Allan Sandri joined Ballantyne, when he became Brad Ritchies second victim in his three overs.
Graeme Johnson and John Hills added 35 for the third wicket before Johnson was dismissed for 21 but worse was to come.
Seven runs later, Kelvin Mansfield was clean bowled by Alf Bell without scoring and incoming batsman Norm McKenzie, was adjudged leg before the very next delivery from Bell.
This brought in big hitting Michael Dodd to the crease to join the determined Hills, and if there was to be a man of the moment it was Dodd.
The pair added 38 for the sixth wicket before Hills long innings came to an end when he was bowled by Denis Mabley for 30, an innings that lasted 120 minutes. Hills faced 68 balls in all and hit three boundaries.
Bruce Sewell only lasted four runs before he was leg before to Mabley for 1 and the North Otago total was 89.
Dodd and Paddy Bleach added 9 runs before Bleach was bowled by Bell for 3.
At 96 for 8 North Otago's hopes looked bleak. However Dodd found two eager allies in Todd Patton, playing his first representative and Mark Julius.
Dodd and Patton put on 28 for the ninth wicket and then Julius and Dodd defied the Ashburton attack and in a gritty stand the pair added 49 for the last wicket before Dodd's gallant innings came to a close when he was dismissed for a great innings of 85.
Dodd was at the crease for 163 minutes, facing 139 balls and he hit 15 fours, 5 in succession at one stage. His 50 came up in 130 minutes and off 110 balls.
Alf Bell was the pick of the Ashburton bowlers taking 4 for 36 off 15 overs.
Opening bowler, Brad Ritchie took 3 for 24 off 12 overs, while Denis Mabley took 3 for 32 off 11 overs and 4 balls.
Ashburton opened its innings in solid fashion with Peter Burton and Grant Houston putting on 44 before Burton was caught by Allan Sandri to give Todd Patton his first wicket in representative cricket. Dodd had Houston caught behind by Graeme Johnson 11 runs later, but this brought together the pairing of 16 year old left lander Dale Jemmett and allrounder Dennis Mabley, who took Ashburton through to 69 for 2 at tea.
Jemmett batting with rare maturity was finally out for 44 with Mabley falling victim to Norm McKenzie for 59.
The Ashburton middle order succumbed with Tony Clarke (0), Geoff Wright (18) and Gary Jenkins (10) going cheaply.
However at stumps on the first day Ashburton was well placed at 217 for 7 with Stephen Kerr unbeaten on 37 and Alf Bell on 6 at the close of play.
Norm McKenzie had taken 2 for 28, Mark Julius 2 for 52, Todd Patton 1 for 28 and Michael Dodd 1 for 29 at the end of the first days play.
Stephen Kerr dominated the opening session on the second day taking his tally through 86 as Ashburton went through to 276 before the final wicket fell. Kerr's 86 came from only 72 balls and took 102 minutes and included eight fours.
Norm McKenzie was the pick of the North Otago bowlers taking 4 for 60 off 24 overs while Michael Dodd took 2 for 34 and Mark Julius, 2 for 73 with Patton picking up the other wicket to fall.
North Otago started its second innings 101 runs in arrears and was soon in trouble with "Spinner" Ballantyne going without scoring with the North Otago total at 4.
John Hills and Allan Sandri added 66 for the second wicket before Hills was out to a rather high leg before for 37.
Johnson joined Sandri but 12 runs later was given out leg before well down the track.
Worse was to follow.
Three runs later with the smell of lunch waffling in the nostrils, Kelvin Mansfield didn't get to the pitch of the ball trying to drive on the off side and Dennis Mabley took an excellent catch to send North Otago to 85 for 4.
Norm McKenzie swished at one and was caught behind one run later and North Otago went to lunch 86 of 5 still 15 runs behind.
It appeared that it would be an early finish as North Otago slumped to 112 for 9 and an outright win to Ashburton looked a mere formality.
But as Dodd proved to be the man of the moment in the first innings, Todd Patton stepped into the void and with Mark Julius put on 110 for the last wicket.
Patton was finally out for a fine 83 scored in 119 minutes and containing thirteen fours. Julius played a more patient innings. He was unbeaten on 21 but he was at the crease for 116 minutes and faced 112 balls.
Allan Sandri who opened the innings put in a valuable knock of 41.
Tony Clarke took 4 for 47 off 12 overs and 3 balls., while Peter Burton took 4 for 46 off 18 overs.
Ashburton was given what appeared to be an easy task of scoring 122 for outright points but North Otago fought back to make it a nail biting finish.
It was Paddy Bleach who got the break through in his third over he had Burton leg before and in his next over clean bowled Grant Houston to have Ashburton 7 for 2.
Bleach featured in the next dismissal when he caught Dale Jemmett of Julius' bowling and then grabbed the wickets of Denis Mabley (28) and Tony Clark (3) to have Ashburton 55 for 5.
Quick reactions from Allan Sandri saw Gary Jenkins run out to make it 98 for 7 before Dodd struck bowling Wright with the total at 100.
Bleach got back into the action to clean out Stephen Kerr while Dodd had Brad Ritchie caught behind with the total at 107.
Ashburton requiring 15 runs from 13 and only wicket in hand, shut up shop and Brad Ritchie and Alf Bell saw the side through to 110 for wickets when the final ball was bowled.
Bleach produced the excellent figures of 5 for 35 off 14 overs. Dodd claimed 2 for 10 off 5 overs and Julius again accurate and economical finished with 1 for 35 off 17 overs.
Short Scorecard(s)
Representative - U-Bix Cup - Zone Series
Ashburton County vs North Otago at Centennial Park Oval, Oamaru
North Otago 175 ( M.J. Dodd 85, E.J. Hills 30, G. Johnson 21, Bell 4-36, Ritchie 3-24, Mably 3-32 ) & 222 ( T. Patton 83, A.D. Sandri 41, E.J. Hills 37, M.W. Julius 21no, M.J. Dodd 19, Burton 4-46, Clarke 4-47 )
Ashburton County 276 ( S. Kerr 86, D. Mably 59, D. Jemmet 44, P. Burton 21, G. Wright 18, N.W. McKenzie 4-60, M.J. Dodd 2-34, M.W. Julius 2-73 ) & 110-9 ( D. Mably 28, G. Wright 26, G. Jenkins 16, P.D. Bleach 5-35, M.J. Dodd 2-10 )
First innings win to Ashburton County
Full scorecard for the match