North Otago recorded its second win in the U-Bix Cup cricket competition when it defeated Ashburton on the first innings in a match played at Ashburton Domain in the weekend.
It was another good all-round team performance by North Otago which narrowly missed out on an outright win in the final session yesterday. North Otago needed 161 runs in just 23 overs for the outright by was forced to abandon the chase after losing some quick wickets finishing at 81 for eight.
North Otago had earlier gained first innings points when it easily overhauled Ashburton's total of 177.
Ashburton which batted first after winning the toss struggled against some excellent bowling by Stephen Neil, John Crombie and Paddy Bleach. Neil took five for 48 off 22 overs in only his second U-Bix match while Crombie took three for 48.
Bleach only got one wicket but bowled exceptionally well tying one end while Neil and Crombie attacked at the other.
North Otago reached 112 for four at stumps on the first day and the cruised to 218 yesterday. Mark Wilson top scored with a 68 while Crombie, Daniel Kinney and Kel Mansfield making useful contributions.
Ashburton's batting improved dramatically in the second innings and it reached 202. Neil Rushton was the outstanding bowler for North Otago taking five for 34.
Rushton troubled all the batsmen with his bounce and three of his victims were all caught in the gully by Alex Lemon.
Mansfield gave North Otago a flying start in its bid to gain outright points blasting 21 of the first 23 runs. However, once he was dismissed the wickets tumbled and the visitors had to be content with a first innings win.
Selector-coach Gavin Laird was delighted with his team's performance which gives it ten points from its matches. Mr Laird said this morning that although there was some fine individual performances by Neil, Wilson and Rushton it was a good team effort which produced the win.
"Stephen bowled very well on the first day - he got a bit of turn and Mark (Wilson) set attacking fields for him. The other bowlers performed well tying down the batsmen at the other end which helped him take his wickets.
Wilsons batting was a key factor in North Otago's win. Mr Laird said the young left hander was going from strength to strength. Wilson has no scored 206 runs in two matches averaging 51.5.
Mark has really developed into a class batsman this season. He is a player who seems to lift his game for representative cricket."
North Otago now has a break from its U-Bix campaign with its next game against Southland at Centennial Park on January 22-23.
Short Scorecard(s)
Representative - U-Bix Cup - Zone Series
North Otago vs Ashburton County at Ashburton Domain Oval, Ashburton
Ashburton County 177 ( J. Overend 50, W. Eddington 25, T. Clarke 24, M. Hayes 18, S. Scott 18, R. Hooper 15, S. Neil 5-48, J.B. Crombie 3-48 ) & 202 ( T. Clarke 35, R. Madden 33, J. Ellis 30no, E. Gorman 29, W. Eddington 18, M. Hayes 17, M. Dryland 12, N.W. Rushton 5-34, S. Neil 2-73 )
North Otago 218 ( M. Wilson 68, J.B. Crombie 40, D. Kinney 32, K.J. Mansfield 25, C. Hore 16, P.D. Bleach 12, Ellis 5-54, Hooper 3-43 ) & 81-8 ( M. Wilson 22, K.J. Mansfield 21, Eddington 5-39 )
First innings win to North Otago
Full scorecard for the match