An inability to get on top of a rather ordinary bowling attack cost North Otago its U Bix Cup elimination match against Central Otago played at Centennial Park over the weekend.

Central won the toss and put North Otago into bat on the Centennial Park pitch which traditionally does little for the bowlers even on the first day.

The North Otago top order batsmen however struggled against Central Otago in a flattering manner and in the first 180 minute session battled through to 96 losing three wickets in the process.

Fifty-eight overs in all were bowled in that morning session and the batsmen showed reticence in attacking many playable deliveries.

The second session of play saw Graeme Ballantyne and Bow Wilson set about the bowling with more will and this duo featured in a 67 run stand for the fourth wicket giving the first real momentum to the North Otago batting.

Ballantyne who has been in excellent form with the bat in club cricket found little to fear from the Central attack and went on to make an invaluable 70.

Further down the order Kelvin Mansfield was the next best batsmen with 29.

Wilson was out for 22 while opener McGregor made 23.

The tail wagged but limply rather like the white flag of surrender and the last five batsmen aggregated only 35 runs, with Ian Chapman and Trevor Robertson getting 22 of those.

The North Otago innings finally halted about 4.30pm on the first day when the last wicket fell at 220 scored in 93.3 overs.

Blyth Andrews was the best of the Central bowlers taking four for 35 while Gary Lockhart the lanky opening bowler finished with three for 60. Gary Thomas, Lockhart's partner took two for 20 and Jim Barrie, one for 30.

Andrews proved to be difficult to score from bowling 25 overs 12 of which were maidens.

Central Otago had just over 120 minutes of play on the first day and in that time faced 36 overs and when play ended with 82 for one, the batsman out being Tim Johnston who went for 14, with the total at 48.

Adrian Cade and Geoff Blakley saw out the rest of the final session.

Blakely and Cade added only one more run to the overnight total before Blakley was caught by Ballantyne off Ian Chapman's bowling for 54 scored off 95 balls in 135 minutes containing four fours.

Adrian Cade and David Hill however swung the game Central's way with a third wicket stand of 122 before Hill was caught by McGregor off Chapman's bowling for 32.

Cade was eventually out for an impressive 87 scored off 247 balls in 259 minutes and he hit 10 boundaries.

Jim Barrie who has been the nemesis of so many sides relished the North Otago attack and when the declaration came was unbeaten on 60.

Barrie and Andrews added 79 for the eighth wicket before the innings was declared at 333, a lead of 113 on the first innings.

Ian Chapman was against the best of the local bowlers taking four for 113 off 43 overs, 15 of which were maidens while Mark Julius took two for 71 and Ballantyne, one for 36.

North Otago batted through to 6pm on the second day before play concluded, using time for much needed batting practice.

At stumps North Otago was 90 for the loss of two wickets with McGregor out for 37 while Ballantyne was unbeaten on 23. Steve Willscroft took both wickets to fall at a cost of 41 runs.