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| Glynn Cameron |
North Otago's chances of having a challenge for the Hawke Cup were dashed through a poor batting effort on day one of their two-day representative cricket game at the weekend.
The only bright spot of a disappointing game was a well-earned century by Duncan Drew in the second innings.
It was always going to be difficult to get maximum points in a match against a strong Dunedin Metropolitan side, but all hope of any points at all disappeared before lunch on Saturday. North Otago was all out 20 minutes before the break for 80 runs.
North Otago captain Mark Wilson won the toss and elected to bat, but the home side made a bad start, losing opener Glynn Cameron, caught by Nathan Morland off the bowling of Mark Billcliff.
In fact Billcliff, who bowls right arm medium fast, proved to be North Otago's destroyer as he scythed through the batting line-up. He finished with the fine figures of seven for 28 of 15 overs.
Faced with that sort of accurate bowling, North Otago wickets fell steadily and they found themselves five for 48, and all out for 80.
Only Duncan Drew showed any resistance, scoring a patient 23 in 88 minutes before being caught behind by McEntry. Mark Wilson (11) and Neil Rushton (15) were the only other batsmen to reach double figures.
For Metropolitan, Glen Jonas took two for 21 off 10 overs and Bradley Scott took the only other wicket for 13 runs.
Six North Otago batsmen were out caught.
North Otago must have been buoyed by Metropolitans bad start as opener Chris Davies fell, caught by Chris Cunningham, in David Sewell's second over, when the score was just one. Then the other opener Michael Hesson, also went early, run out for four when there were 30 runs on the board.
But that was the end of the enjoyment as Metropolitan began to pile on the runs.
Hayden Anderson contributed a solid 50 in 70 minutes, before being Keith Gardner's only victim for the day, and Billcliff added 42. But it was Scott Waide who made the biggest contribution, scoring 120 in 178 minutes off 150 balls.
Jason Jones added 20 and Jonas 28 before Metropolitan finished their innings at 286 for nine. Nathan Morland was injured and did not bat.
For North Otago, David Sewell took two for 74 off 19, Richard Quirk three for 48 of 12, Rushton tow for 61 off 17 and Gardner one for 37 off nine.
North Otago made a better fist of their second innings, helped considerably by a determined century (101) by Drew. He had support from Cameron 26,, Aaron Dawe 25 and Paul Odell, who made 24.
Bradley Scott nabbed a five wicket bag for Metropolitan, giving him six for the match, and Billcliff snared one more, giving him eight for the weekend.
Metropolitan took the outright win, losing three wickets, two to Sewell and one to Dawe, in their chase for the required 67 runs.
Wilson said today the North Otago players were very disappointed with their first innings effort.
"We went in with high hopes, all geed up and confident, and then those hopes were dashed before lunch on the first day".
Wilson rued his decision to bat first, though he said Metropolitan captain Jonas admitted later that he would have done the same.
"Hindsight is a great thing. But as it turned out there was some juice in the track and the ball seamed around a bit. In saying that, though, they bowled really well, " he said.
Wilson had high praise for Drew, suggesting it might not be long before he is seen in Otago colours.
"Hopefully this will bring the recognition he deserves, and the selectors will have to think about including him in the provincial side".
The umpire's decision to continue to allow play to continue in the rain when Metropolitan needed about 30 runs for the outright win would be disputed in his match report, Wilson said.
"At the end of the day if we beat Southland outright next weekend the difference in points between Metropolitan getting a first innings win or an outright over us could be crucial."
"I will certainly be asking about it".
Short Scorecard(s)
Representative - Hawke Cup - Zone Series
Dunedin Metro vs North Otago at Centennial Park Oval, Oamaru
North Otago 80 ( D.J. Drew 23, N.W. Rushton 15, M. Wilson 11, Billcliff 7-28, Jonas 2-21 ) & 272 ( D.J. Drew 101, G.R. Cameron 26, A. Dawe 25, P.M. Odell 24no, K. Gardiner 14, Scott 5-32, Jones 2-41, Waide 2-52 )
Dunedin Metro 286 ( S.J. Waide 120, H.A. Anderson 50, M. Billcliff 42, T. McIntyre 28no, J. Jones 20, R. Quirk 3-48, N.W. Rushton 2-61, D.G. Sewell 2-74 ) & 68-3 ( H.A. Anderson 32, T. Crabb 12no, B.S. Scott 11, D.G. Sewell 2-29 )
Dunedin Metro won by 7 wickets
Full scorecard for the match
Player Pages:
Glynn Cameron | Aaron Dawe | Duncan Drew | Keith Gardner | David Sewell | Mark Wilson |