A first innings win to Central Otago has knocked the North Otago cricket team out of contention to win the Hawke Cup following their match in Oamaru during the weekend.
The home side didn't make the best of starts, with captain Craig Smith snr losing the toss and being sent into bat by Central Otago.
Smith's day got worse when he was dismissed for five with the score in 12.
Stephen Halliwell, Glynn Cameron and Geoff Smith all followed in quick succession, and North Otago looked in trouble at 52 for four.
However, opener Scott Simpson and Otago representative Neil Rushton, who had earlier been in doubt for the match with a thumb injury, put together a 49-run partnership to give the side some hope.
But when Simpson was dismissed for 51, the North Otago innings folded and they were eventually dismissed for 145.
Rushton and Daniel Fletcher were the only others to make double figures, scoring 39 and 10 respectively.
Bowling for Central, John Lovelock was the thorn in North Otago's side, taking an outstanding six wickets for 39 runs off his 18 overs.
Eric Standfield and Simon Harper took two wickets each.
Central Otago's innings could not have been more different, despite an early setback with the loss of opener Trevor Kitto for eight.
North Otago's bowlers could not capitalise on the loss of the early wicket, and Central were eventually all out for a massive 474 runs.
Central's Cory Blair almost single-handily reached North Otago's total, scoring 117 runs of just 145 balls, an innings that included 22 boundaries.
His innings included 14 fours and two sixes.
Number 10 batsman Simon Harper also contributed 50.
The North Otago bowlers did not have an easy time of it, although Brad Kernahan took four wickets, with Michael Walding and Gordon Lemon picking up a couple each.
Central still had a chance to take an outright win, and they must have been reasonably confident when they had North Otago in trouble in their second innings at 87 for four.
However, the weather did not come to the party, and North Otago were saved from a possible outright loss when the match was abandoned.
Simpson continued his good form, scoring 25, and Geoff Smith was left undefeated on 29.
Central's Brett Paterson took two wickets, with Russell Ritchie and Simon Harper picking up one each.
The win means Central will represent the Otago zone and play the Canterbury zone winners Mid Canterbury in Christchurch next weekend.
The winner of that game will then challenge Hawke Cup holders Northland for the title.
Short Scorecard(s)
Representative - Hawke Cup - Zone Series
Central Otago vs North Otago at St Kevins College, Oamaru
North Otago 146 ( S.A. Simpson 51, N.W. Rushton 39, Lovelock 6-39, Harper 2-14, Standfield 2-39 ) & 87-4 ( G.D. Smith 29no, S.A. Simpson 25, G.R. Cameron 16, N.W. Rushton 11no, Paterson 2-24 )
Central Otago 474 ( C. Blair 117, E. Standfield 98, J. Pyle 82, S. Harper 50, B. Hill 29, N. Harvey 13, R. Ritchie 11no, B. Kernahan 4-54, G. Lemon 2-44, M. Walding 2-63 )
First innings win to Central Otago
Full scorecard for the match