North Otago will head into their first Hawke Cup cricket match against Southland this weekend in confident mood after beating their opponents in a one-day fixture in Alexandra on Friday.
Loses to Dunedin Metropolitan (Saturday) and Central Otago (yesterday) shoed the North Otago team had a lot to work on but Friday's result was convincing, captain Mark Wilson said today.
"We know we can beat both Southland and Central Otago and I guess that's the main thing we got out of the Alexandra tournament.
"We beat Southland pretty comfortably and I think we should be confident of repeating that at Centennial Park this weekend."
The North Otago bowlers struggled at times in Alexandra with the switch to one-day cricket rules, conceding 23 wides against Southland and 26 against Dunedin Metropolitan.
Top-order batting was also a concern. North Otago failed to post an opening partnership in double figures, and Wilson was the only batsman to score a half-century.
"We certainly know we've still got a lot to work on," Wilson said.
"Our fielding at times left a lot to be desired, our bowling needs to be tighter and our top-order batting really needs to get us off to a good start."
One of the more consistent performances for North Otago was former Dunedin Metropolitan pace bowler Jason Jones, making his debut for North Otago.
Jones took four wickets for 26 runs on the opening day as Southland were dismissed for 174.
North Otago slipped to 30 for three in reply before Duncan Drew (27), Grant Billcliff and teenager Daniel Gard (45) set up a win by four wickets in the 44th over.
Dunedin Metropolitan posted 223 for the loss of just two wickets against North Otago on Saturday, thanks to a cracking unbeaten century from promising opener Hayden Anderson and an unbeaten 41 from Shaun Haig. Chris Cunningham (30), Drew (24) and Wilson (49 not out) were the leading scorers as North Otago fell for 175, 48 runs short.
It was again up to Drew and Wilson to steady the ship yesterday, after North Otago had stumbled to 21 for four chasing 181 to win against Central Otago.
Wilson raised 50 off 77 balls, including seven boundaries, and Drew contributed 48 in a partnership of 83 for the fifth wicket but North Otago were dismissed for 165 in the 42nd over.
Earlier, Jones (four for 18) and young seamer Phil Crossan (three for 18) were the best of the North Otago bowlers.
Short Scorecard(s)
Representative - Districts One Day Series - Round 3
North Otago vs Central Otago at Molyneux Park, Alexandra
Central Otago 180 ( K. Mansfield 39, T. Wilson 36, G. Douglas 34, L. Scott 26, L. Breen 11, J. Jones 4-18, P. Crossan 3-18, G.J. Billcliff 2-46 )
North Otago 165 ( M. Wilson 50, D.J. Drew 48, S. Ridley 12, Mansfield 2-21, Domigan 2-25 )
Central Otago won by 15 runs
Full scorecard for the match
Representative - Districts One Day Series - Round 2
Dunedin Metro vs North Otago at Molyneux Park No 2, Alexandra
Dunedin Metro 223-2 ( H. Anderson 111no, S.B. Haig 41no, D. Smith 27, A. Wilkinson 12 )
North Otago 175 ( M. Wilson 49no, C.K. Cunningham 30, D.J. Drew 24, R. De Joux 22, G.J. Billcliff 14, MacKenzie 5-63, Anderson 3-31 )
Dunedin Metro won by 48 runs
Full scorecard for the match
Representative - Districts One Day Series - Round 1
Southland vs North Otago at Molyneux Park No 2, Alexandra
Southland 174 ( G. Davis 38, B. Sutherland 31, G. Folster 26, D. Cocker 21, D. Williams 11, J. Jones 4-26, M. Wilson 2-13, R. Duncan 2-27 )
North Otago 175-6 ( G.J. Billcliff 46, D.C. Gard 45, D.J. Drew 27, Hodson 4-33 )
North Otago won by 4 wickets
Full scorecard for the match