A defiant tenth wicket stand by Central Otago tailenders Graeme Fergusson and Peter Thompson foiled North Otago in their hopes of forcing an outright win and thus regaining the Tate Trophy for senior representative cricket.

Central won the toss and elected to bat at Awamoa Park on Saturday and lost the first three wickets with 25 runs only on the board. Jim Barrie and the youthful Brian Sheehy featured in a great 75-run partnership for the fourth wicket and although Barrie went with the total at 100 Central looked set. However, a mini collapse saw the next two wickets fall with the addition of one further run only and although batted patiently if not all that surely after he had passed his 50 he guided the side through to a first innings total of 165 when the innings closed at tea on the first day.

On a pitch which appeared as though it would favour the bowlers more on the second day Greg Martin produced another fine spell of bowling taking five for 33 of 21 overs while Chris Taylor's spin and flight variation saw him tie up the Central batsmen and take four for 32 off 30 overs.

North Otago started freely after tea with Bob Wilson and Russell Martin batting confidently, and after an opening stand of 51, Wilson was finally out fro 28. Martin and Graeme Ballantyne took the total through to 85 at stumps. The second day started in rather sensational fashion when Ballantyne failed to arrive on time to open the batting and was consequently dismissed for 25.

Lindsay Robertson and Martin added 38 for the third wicket before Martin was out for a well compiled 41. But Robertson dominated proceedings. Graeme Johnson went cheaply and then Chris Taylor and Robertson piled on 70 for the firth wicket. Robertson was finally dismissed for 79 scored in 172 minutes and containing seven fours and a six.

But the Central bowlers came back and at nine down for 245 North Otago skipper Wilson declared the innings closed giving North Otago an overall lead of 79.

The best of the bowlers was Jim Barrie who took four for 48 off 24 overs while Peter Thompson and Trevor Sutherland both took two wickets each.

Central started the second innings quietly but lost Sutherland with the total at six and although Neville Muir and Brian Sheehy made 29 for the second wicket Central collapsed again losing five wickets for the addition of only nine runs.

Barrie and Colin Buttar brought some sanity to the Central batting waiting for the loose ball to score the runs and added 28 for the seventh wicket. But with the total at 72 Central lost in turn Barrie, Buttar and Graeme Duffy with Greg Martin dismissing the latter two with successive balls.

But try as they might the North Otago attack could not oust the last pair Fergusson and Thompson who by some astute and at times fortuitous stroke play took Central past the 79-run target and played out the bulk of the final 20 overs this denying North Otago the chance for the outright.

With the ball Taylor completed a good double for the game taking four for 36 off 24 overs while the other wickets went to Greg Martin (2/26), Doug Brown (2/33) and Lindsay Robertson (1/0).

Short Scorecard(s)

Representative - Hawke Cup - Zone Series

North Otago vs Central Otago at Awamoa Park, Oamaru
Central Otago 165 ( B. Sheehy 76, J. Barrie 42, T.D. Sutherland 11, G. Martin 5-33, C. Taylor 4-31 ) & 104 ( J. Barrie 23, P. Thompson 22, B. Sheehy 19, N. Muir 12, C. Taylor 4-36, D. Brown 3-33, G. Martin 2-16 )
North Otago 244-9dec ( L. Robertson 79, R. Martin 41, C. Taylor 31, R.S. Wilson 28, G.J. Ballantyne 25, T. Roberson 11, Barrie 4-48, Thompson 2-64, Sutherland 2-74 )
First innings win to North Otago
Full scorecard for the match