North Otago went agonisingly close to snatching victory from the jaws of defeat during their Hawke Cup cricket match against Central Otago at Centennial Park at the weekend.
A late morning finish to the game looked on the cards yesterday after North Otago slumped to be all out in their second innings, which meant Central Otago needed just 58 runs to win.
But the North Otago bowlers must have had some secret concoction in the changing rooms because they came out absolutely fizzing.
In the space of 20 minutes, five Central batsmen were dismissed for just five runs in what was a remarkable display of cricket by the home side.
Opening bowlers David Sewell and Neil Rushton bowled with pace and bounce and had the opposition ducking for cover.
Sewell started the carnage when he had Steven Ridley trapped leg before wicket before a run had even been scored.
Hayden Hickey tried to put the pressure back on the North Otago team but he was the second wicket to fall when he was run out trying to take a sneaky single.
When danger man Brendan Domigan was bowled by Rushton, Central Otago had only five runs on the board and North Otago sensed they were on the verge of a notable Hawke Cup comeback. However Jason Mavor and James Pyle had other ideas as they frustrated the bowlers with a match-winning partnership that proved the winning of the game.
Mavor batted for 61 minutes and faced 49 balls for his 16 runs, while Pyle batted for 70 minutes and faced 40 balls as he limped his way to 17.
North Otago were sent into bat on a green wicket on the first day.
It was always going to be hard batting first, but North Otago failed to fire as they were dismissed for 126 from 51.3 overs.
The pick of the batsmen were Geoff Smith and Rushton. They looked comfortable against the pace of the Central Otago bowlers as they compiled 42 runs of 64 balls.
In reply, Central Otago was not much better, but they managed to squeeze out 175 runs, which, in the context of the game, was a handy lead.
The best of the North Otago bowlers was Rushton who took three for 33 off 15 overs.
He was well supported by Mark Creighton (two for 23) and Craig Direen (two for 27).
In North Otago's second innings they crashed to 36 for six before Rushton continued his superb match form, as he scored 38 runs of just 45 balls.
Apart from Rushton's innings, extras was the next highest score with 16.
Central Otago coach Warren Lees was a relieved man when his team hit the winning runs.
"When we were five for five everyone was a bit tense, but we got there in the end."
Lees said the wicket was greener than what he had seen in previous visits to the ground, but did not think it was too bad.
"Both teams had good bowling attacks. David Sewell and Neil Rushton are class bowlers and they did well," he said.
North Otago's next game in the Hawke Cup is against Southland in Invercargill on February 1 and 2.
Short Scorecard(s)
Representative - Hawke Cup - Zone Series
Central Otago vs North Otago at Centennial Park Oval, Oamaru
North Otago 126 ( N.W. Rushton 25, G.D. Smith 23, G.J. Billcliff 16, C.A. Smith 14, D.G. Sewell 12no, Standfield 5-24, Neville 2-16 ) & 106 ( N.W. Rushton 38, P. Cartwright 13, Neville 3-19, Paterson 2-14, Standfield 2-20, Bush 2-41 )
Central Otago 175 ( B.J. Domigan 78, J. Stephens 37, J. Pyle 18, E. Standfield 11, N.W. Rushton 3-33, M. Creighton 2-23, C. Direen 2-27 ) & 59-8 ( J. Pyle 17, J. Mavor 16, D.G. Sewell 3-20, N.W. Rushton 2-17 )
Central Otago won by 2 wickets
Full scorecard for the match