North Otago year 7/8 took a 15-run win over Dunedin Gold at King George Park on Sunday in fine weather. Dunedin won the toss and elected to bat first. North Otago produced a much-improved bowling display. George Bell and Mason James had the visitors 3 down for 15 runs before a partnership developed but Sam Senior broke through to have Dunedin at 40 for 4.

It would be another 10 overs before the crucial wicket of Izaak Parata was taken by a smart throw from George Bell to Sam Clulee to get a run out. Blake Martin then removed another two wickets with his spell, having Dunedin at 7 for 85. Another 5 overs saw George Bell take another wicket and three overs later Mason Struck again. Tom Dempster finished the innings with Dunedin Gold all out for 124 inside 42 overs.

The home side's bowling was much improved from one wide per over last week, to only 0.62 per over in this outing. North Otago surpassed Dunedin Gold's total in the 39th over with Tom Dempster (28) top scoring. The opening partnership of Sam Clulee and Mason James was laid at 32 runs while the fourth partnership of Joshua Camplin (20) and Dempster (28) recorded 43.

The eighth partnership was the home bringer with Liam Neilson and Conner Lough collaborating for 31 runs for a total of 139 all out. Team manager Blair Camplin said he was pleased with the improved performance and praised his players' gutsy effort. "Well done to North Otago on the win," he said. "Although two partnerships helped the total build the third partnership of Liam and Conner bought the team home.

"This was a gutsy effort by Liam (Neilson) and Conner (Lough) who ran between the wickets impressively.

"In general North Otago improved on last week and created a game for them to win and held their nerve to do so. "The refining is well under way as we know the boys have the skills but they just need to match them with the right mind set."