North Otago beat Southland with eight balls remaining to pick up maximum points and go to the top of the Hawke Cup elimination round. North Otago was given the task of scoring 163 in its second innings and tight bowling saw the demise of opener Duncan Drew and Scott Simpson(22) as North Otago slumped to 44 for two. Youngster Ben Cant played a mature innings as opener before he was dismissed for 34 while Simon Butler(44) played with plenty of enterprise. North Otago lost its way a little losing the Smith brothers, Robbie and Craig to be 132 for six . Going into the last 15 overs North Otago required a further 78 runs and it was the pinch hitting of John Blakely(21 not out) and to a lesser extent Bradley Kernahan (16 not out) that saw North Otago through to 163 for seven.

Jonathan Hodson, Nic Turner and left arm off spinner Dean Allen took two wickets each.

North Otago won the toss and asked Southland to bat first at Whitestone Contracting stadium a decision which paid off on a pitch which was favouring the bowlers. And only three of the Southland batsmen Darryl Williams(27), Campbell Cuthill(20) and Mark Beer(21) reached double figures as the North Otago bowling attack led by David Sewell who took five for 24 off 15 overs bowled Southland out for 121 late on the first day. North Otago lost the wicket of Duncan Drew and when rain stopped play late in the day North Otago was 22 for the loss of one wicket.

North Otago then lost the next six wickets for the addition of only 16 runs early on the second day before Simon Butler(36) and Brad Kernahan(52) added 72 for the eighth wicket in a fine innings to enable North Otago to pass the Southland first innings total by a solitary run.

Jonathan Hodson was the destroyer taking six for 42 off 15 over while Nic Turner took the remaining four wickets at a cost of 22 runs.

North Otago claimed three wickets before lunch on the second day before Southland slumped to 76 for six. Jonathan Homer(56) and Campbell Cuthill(44 not out) resurrected the innings to see the final wicket fall at 163 leaving North Otago the task of scoring 162 runs for the outright.

Sewell completed a fine match taking four for 50 while John Blakely, Brad Kernahan and Paul O'Dell took two wickets each.

Short Scorecard(s)

Representative - Hawke Cup - Zone Series

Southland vs North Otago at Whitestone Contracting Stadium, Oamaru
Southland 121 ( S. Wadsworth 27, M.D. Beer 21, C. Cuthill 20, J. Homer 12, D.G. Sewell 5-24, J. Blakely 2-41 ) & 163 ( J. Homer 56, C. Cuthill 44no, M.D. Beer 16, J. Hodson 12, D.G. Sewell 4-50, B. Kernahan 2-16, P.M. Odell 2-18, J. Blakely 2-52 )
North Otago 122 ( B. Kernahan 52, S.M. Butler 36, D.J. Drew 12, Hodson 6-42, Turner 4-22 ) & 163-6 ( S.M. Butler 44, B.C. Cant 34, S.A. Simpson 22, J. Blakely 21no, B. Kernahan 16no, Allen 2-16, Turner 2-52, Hodson 2-54 )
North Otago won by 4 wickets.
Full scorecard for the match

Team Pages:
North Otago 2008-2009 |