A third wicket partnership between Lindsay Breen and Geoff Blakely helped Central Otago gain a first innings win against North Otago in a U-Bix Cup elimination game played at Milner Park in the weekend.
The pair was in top form, easily surpassing Central Otago's record for a third wicket partnership of 204 set by Ian Rutherford and Geoff McLelland in 1982. The partnership lasted 266 minutes before Breen was trapped leg before wicket by Jeff Mawhinney who had been bowling well for no reward.
Breen was particularly impressive hitting 23 fours and four sixes in his innings of 191. He was very strong on the front foot driving on both sides of the wicket punishing anything slightly full in length.
Blakely was slightly more circumspect scoring 123 not out including 15 fours and one six in 345 minutes and 324 balls.
Central Otago declared shortly before tea, presenting North Otago with the target of 395 runs for a first innings win. It was always going to be a difficult task and North Otago made a bad start, although the wicket was playing extremely well.
Opening batsman Graham Johnston was dismissed with just six runs on the board, but David Reid, Trevor Robertson and Jeff Mawhinney staged a partial recovery taking North Otago through to 75 for the loss of two wickets at stumps on the first day.
Central Otago made a great start on the second day, dismissing Ross Ward first ball and continued applying the pressure to have North Otago in trouble at 195 for the loss of eight. However, Mark Wilson who was playing in his first U-Bix game, saved the day with a brilliant unbeaten century.
Wilson combined with Willets to score 75 runs for the ninth wicket taking the North Otago score to 270. He then teamed with number 11 batsman David Cartwright to score a further 38 runs avoiding the follow-on and any possibility of an outright defeat.
Wilson hit 12 fours and two sixes in a chanceless innings of 114 not out which lasted just over three hours. He scored all his runs all around the wicket but was especially strong driving of the front foot- his two sixes were glorious lofted drives back of the bowler's head.
The game was abandoned when North Otago was dismissed for 308 and it was apparent that an outright result was highly unlikely.
Captain of the North Otago team Paddy Bleach said Central Otago's big first innings score meant it was always going to be an uphill battle to win the match.
"It was a great batting performance by Central on the first day and we faced a big job to try and win from these even though it was an excellent wicket. We were in serious trouble there for a while today but Mark Wilson took charge and led the fight back - he batted exceptionally well."
"I thought Jeff Mawhinney and Mike Willets also batted well. The partnership between Mark Wilson and Mike Willets managed to help us avoid the follow on, " he said.
North Otago's next U-Bix Cup game is against Ashburton at Ashburton on December 21 and 22.
Short Scorecard(s)
Representative - U-Bix Cup - Zone Series
Central Otago vs North Otago at Milner Park, Oamaru
Central Otago 395 ( L. Breen 191, G. Blakely 123no, L. Richards 40, D.A. Cartwright 2-78 )
North Otago 308 ( M. Wilson 114no, J. Mawhinney 49, D.W. Reid 34, M. Willetts 28, T. Roberson 27, M. Smith 3-52, J. Barrie 2-50, P. Marshall 2-60 )
First innings win to Central Otago
Full scorecard for the match