The rain and a rear guard action from the Central Otago batsmen were the thorns in the North Otago Hawke Cup team's side as it had to settle for first innings points in Queenstown yesterday.
Two stoppages for rain yesterday, on the second day of the two-day Hawke Cup match conspired to stop North Otago short of its quest for 20 Central Otago wickets, as the match was called off 30 minutes early.
Stand-in manager James Lovelock unavailable for selection because of injury, said the Queenstown Events Centre pitch became a batsman's pitch by late yesterday.
"It was a tough day and they stuck at it," he said.
"It felt like we got the best out of it.
"It was got tough trying to bowl them out twice."
North Otago batted first on Saturday, and put together 270 off 63 overs. Jarrod Waldron, who missed out with the bat against Southland last weekend, led the way with a solid innings of 75.
He shared in a vital partnership with Mark Patterson (41) after the North Otago innings had gone through a shaky period.
Useful contributions from Neil Rushton, Marcel McKenzie and Dan Fletcher helped the visitors to its handy total.
North Otago then applied the screws to Central Otago with the ball, rolling the home side out for 110.
The only Central Otago batsman to offer resistance was Corey Blair, with 47.
Left-arm strike bowler Craig Smith continued his outstanding early-season form with the ball, claiming four wickets, while Jarrod Waldron backed up his match-high knock with three wickets from seven overs.
Captain Marcel McKenzie, elected to enforce the follow-on, but the Central Otago batsmen stuck to their task with better application in the second innings.
Blair was to the fore again with 46, but Simon Harper was the main obstacle between North Otago and victory.
He remained unbeaten on 52 as play was called off twice for rain yesterday, and North Otago ran out of time before it was able to force a result.
Smith proved dangerous with the ball again with three wickets, and Craig Direen chipped in with a brace as North Otago made its bid for victory.
Lovelock said the pitch flattened out, and Central Otago ended up batting more than 140 overs for the match.
However, it is the second consecutive game that North Otago has taken first innings points on, which is some consolation.
"The team played really well - there were no glaring errors," Lovelock said.
The return match is played in Oamaru next month.
Short Scorecard(s)
Representative - Hawke Cup - Zone Series
North Otago vs Central Otago at Events Centre, Queenstown
North Otago 270 ( J.M. Waldron 75, M. Patterson 41, N.W. Rushton 37, M.N. McKenzie 36, D. Fletcher 32, Harper 3-39, Babette 2-36, B. Paterson 2-60 )
Central Otago 110 ( C. Blair 47, J. Lovelock 15, R. Heal 13, C.M. Smith 4-29, J.M. Waldron 3-22 ) & 208-7 ( S. Harper 52no, C. Blair 46, T. Cooney 27, R. Heal 18no, T. Kitto 17, J. Lovelock 17, R. Hough 14, C.M. Smith 3-37, C. Direen 2-14 )
First innings win to North Otago
Full scorecard for the match