An outstanding fifth wicket stand of 68 between Ashley Flannery and Kelvin Mansfield guided North Otago through to a win over the New Zealand Universities XI at Awamoa Park yesterday in a limited overs fixture.

Universities batted first and was dismissed for 175 scored from 49 of the 50 overs.

The side was held together by a patient innings from Richard Boon whose fine contribution of 71 was by far the best effort from the University batsmen.

Chris Edkins came to light with 30 down the order while the 24 extras conceded by North Otago was the next highest score.

Once again it was the ultra consistent Mark Julius who made the breakthrough for North Otago when, in his second over, he clean bowled opener opener Richie Stevens for 4 and Universities were 1 for 7.

The next five wickets fell for the addition of only 67 more runs before Boon was finally out for 71, which included 5 fours. Boon faced 142 balls and he was at the crease for 179 minutes.

Todd Patton, after picking up the early wicket of Andrew Hore for a duck, cleaned out the tail, taking the wickets of Boon, Edkins and Limmer in his last three overs. Patton finished with 4 for 43 off his 10 overs. Julius who bowled his ten overs on the trot took 2 for 19 another economical display, while David Cartwright finished with 2 for 21.

The North Otago fielding was sharp with two good run outs and two excellent catches from Graham Johnston and "Tussok" Johnson setting the standard.

In pursuit of 176 to win North Otago lost Graham Johnston with the total at 12 before Nigel Cartwright and "Tussok" Johnson took the side through to 56 before Cartwright was out for 29.

Johnson went with the total at 80 and John Hills was the fourth wicket to fall for 30, with the score at 87.

This brought Ashley Flannery in to join Kelvin Mansfield and the duo turned the tide of the game with a fine fifth wicket stand of 68 in 56 minutes.

The 50 partnership came up in 44 minutes with Flannery racing through to 29 and Mansfield on 53 when the half century stand came up.

Mansfield was finally out for 30 with the total at 155 and although Norm McKenzie went the very next ball to Andrew Hore, Paddy Bleach and Flannery saw North Otago through to a match winning tally of 179 in 45 overs and 1 ball.

Flannery was unbeaten on 55, being at the crease for 84 minutes and hitting 9 fours. His 50 coming up in 73 minutes and he faced 59 balls.

Andrew Hore who had the wickets of Mansfield and McKenzie with successive balls lost the chance of a hat trick when his next delivery was a no ball.

However the former Waitaki Boys allrounder, off 8 overs, took 3 for 37. Richard Petrie, Chris O'Malley and James Hadley each finished with a wicket each as North Otago ended the game at 179 for 6.