The North Otago cricket team lost outright to a strong Central Otago XI in a U Bix Cup elimination game played at Molyneux Park, Alexandra in the weekend.
Central Otago was in control throughout the match after being sent in to bat and scoring 341. A 128-runs second wicket partnership between Aagon Wills and Lindsay Breen was the highlight of the innings which also featured a fine 64 not out by Les Richards.
Breen and Wills brought up their 100 partnership in 123 minutes taking Central Otago through to 172 before Breen was dismissed for 63.Willis was out ten runs later for 71 as Central Otago reached 182 for the loss of three wickets.
North Otago had a good period of play after lunch, picking up six wickets and central Otago was finally dismissed one hour before the close of play.
Craig Hore, Paddy Bleach and John Crombie all bowled well for North Otago although they were not supported by their fielders. North Otago dropped nine catches, including chances from Wills when he was on one and Richards when he was on ten.
North Otago's problems were compounded when it made a disastrous start to its innings, losing three wickets before stumps.
The wickets continued to fall on the second day as North Otago collapsed to be all out for 137 just before the lunch break.
Trevor Robertson and Paddy Bleach were the only batsmen to provide any resistance, combining for a 51-run eighth wicket partnership.
Peter Marshall did most the damage taking four for 49 off 16 overs.
North Otago's top order batsmen failed to fire again in the second innings as it lost quick wickets to be 78 for seven. A stubborn 93-run partnership between Bleach and John Crombie almost denied Central Otago of an outright win but Gary Lockhart made the vital breakthrough when he bowled Crombie for 56.
Lockhart had Craig Hore trapped leg before wicket three runs later and then Marshall secured the outright win when he dismissed Bleach with ten balls remaining in the match.
North Otago's captain, Peter Brown, said today that the failure of the top order batting and dropped catches were the most disappointing aspects of the match.
He said North Otago bowled a good line and length if it had not dropped so many catches would have restricted Central Otago to a score of around 180.
"We let overselves down badly in the field with out catching. You can't afford to drop nine chances at that level and get away with it, " he said.
Brown said Bleach's batting lower down the order was outstanding. He said Robertson, Crombie and Gerard Ward also batted solidly.
Short Scorecard(s)
Representative - U-Bix Cup - Zone Series
North Otago vs Central Otago at Molyneux Park, Alexandra
Central Otago 341 ( A. Wills 71, L. Richards 64no, L. Breen 63, K. McKnight 27, G. Blakely 24, M. Hunter 19, W. Flannery 16, P. Marshall 13, P.D. Bleach 3-88, J.B. Crombie 2-52, C. Hore 2-53, A. Robertson 2-59 )
North Otago 137 ( T. Roberson 36no, P.D. Bleach 33, G. Ward 22, G. Johnson 18, C. Hore 12, Marshall 4-49, Hunter 2-19, Sutton 2-29 ) & 177 ( J.B. Crombie 56, P.D. Bleach 31, G. Ward 23, M. Wilson 20, A. Robertson 17 )
Central Otago won by an innings and 30 runs