A brave second innings fightback wasn't enough to save North Otago as Southland secured a four wicket win in the Hawke Cup elimination cricket clash in Oamaru at the weekend.
The Centennial Park air was rich in anticipation yesterday afternoon as North Otago dug themselves out of a first innings hole and nearly pulled off an unlikely victory.
However, they breed them tough down in Southland, and at 45 for five, chasing 76 for victory, Southland batsmen Dale Cocker, Jeff Wilson and Geoff Folster eked out the remaining runs for a deserved victory.
North Otago openers Antony Cromwell and Valley's Craig Smith saw off the opening overs after being put in to bat on Saturday morning. They put on 34 got the first wicket before Southland medium-pacer Simon Wadworth captured the first of his five victims, with Smith nicking a low catch to Wilson at second slip.
North Otago then lost three quick wickets to be dangling at 38 for four, which soon became 43 for five. Scott Simpson got a nasty rising delivery, which he helped through to wicketkeeper Folster, while captain Grant Billcliff skied a short ball.
Albion's Peter Cartwright, who came into the side for Matt Dawe, took the attack to Southland and found support in St Kevin's College's Craig Smith (15) and Union's Paul Johnston (12). Cartwright went for 20 and North Otago folded soon after for 108.
Wadworth finished with a career best five for 15, while Mark Billcliff took three for 34, and a miserly Wilson two for six off 14 overs.
Several batsmen got starts in the Southland innings, but no-one went on to a big score. Opener Brad Sutherland (38) made a solid start before the middle order responded through Richard MacGilvrary (24), Greg Davis (21), and Cocker (31). Shane Brown top-scored for the visitors, smashing four fours and a six on the way to 41.
North Otago showed grit to restrain the Southland innings at vital times, but their total of 219 still gave them a 111 run first innings lead. Left-arm pace bowler Neil Rushton took three for 39 off 20 overs, while Johnston finished with two for 25 and spinner Tim Geeves two for 32.
The battle to catch and pass Southland started badly, with three North Otago batsmen back in the pavilion for the addition of just 26 runs, Youth and experience then teamed up to lead a courageous fightback, as 15 year old Geoff Smith and captain Grant Billcliff turned on the class in a 93 run fourth-wicket stand.
Smith belied his age to play with remarkable maturity, while Billcliff was severe on any loose bowling.
With lunch looming the pair took North Otago past the first target, that of making Southland bat again, and set about building a lead. Billcliff, on 55, tried one short single too many. He may have overlooked the unwritten rule of not running short singles to Jeff Wilson. The golden touch was there for all to see as Wilson scooped the ball out of the air and returned it neatly for the bails to be removed and Billcliff run out.
Smith went shortly before lunch, prodding a catch to Sutherland fielding close-in. His 25 runs came in a stay of almost two--and-a-half hours at the wicket, during which he faced 121 balls.
Wadworth was again the best for Southland, adding four for 21 to his five wickets in the first innings. Pacemen Jonathan Hodson fired up well to take two for 23 of 12 overs.
Southland's Sutherland looked like making short work of the total, carving three quick boundaries. But Rushton had his partner leg before at the other end and when Sutherland went for 22, the locals sniffed a faint whiff of victory in the air.
Craig Smith then stepped up with a fine spell of seam bowling, capturing two quick wickets. Another Southlander came and went, beguiled by the spin of Geeves, and the visitors found their afternoon tea somewhat hard to swallow with the score at 45 for five.
Fortunately they had the experience of Cocker to call on. The stocky middle order stalwart, in partnership with a pumped-up Wilson, saw out the period after tea.
When Wilson was then given out caught behind off Smith, the double-international trudged off less than impressed with the decision. But Folster and Cocker found the final few runs to seal a first-up Hawke Cup win for Southland.
Smith finished with four for 41 off 15 impressive overs, while Rushton and Geeves finished with one wicket apiece.
Short Scorecard(s)
Representative - Hawke Cup - Zone Series
Southland vs North Otago at Centennial Park Oval, Oamaru
North Otago 108 ( C.A. Smith 23, P. Cartwright 20, C.M. Smith 15, P. Johnston 12, Wadsworth 5-15, Billcliff 3-34, J.W. Wilson 2-6 ) & 187 ( G.J. Billcliff 55, C.M. Smith 33no, G.D. Smith 25, N.W. Rushton 25, S.A. Simpson 11, Wadsworth 4-21, Hodson 2-23, Davis 2-50 )
Southland 219 ( S. Brown 41, B. Sutherland 38, D. Cocker 31, R. Macgillivery 24, G. Davis 21, M. Billcliff 16, N.W. Rushton 3-39, P. Johnston 2-25, T. Geeves 2-32, A. Mills 2-40 ) & 80-6 ( B. Sutherland 22, D. Cocker 13no, G. Folster 13no, C.M. Smith 4-41 )
Southland won by 4 wickets
Full scorecard for the match