Otago has had its share of success in limited-overs cricket during the past decade but it has been 28 years since the province won the first-class title. Cricket writer Adrian Seconi looks at what the Volts need to do to bring the long drought to an end.
Striking distance
With three rounds remaining and a maximum of 60 points still up for grabs, any one of the six teams could win the competition. However, the top three teams enjoy a handy buffer over the rest of the field and Otago is well placed in second with 62 points.
Canterbury leads with 69 points and Wellington is in third place on 60 points. Northern Districts (51), Auckland (50) and Central Districts (48) are only an outright win away from being right back in the mix.
Final stretch
The draw has been kind to Otago - two of its final three matches are at home in Dunedin. The away game is against Central Districts in Nelson, starting today.
The Volts outplayed Central at the University Oval in December but an entire day's play was lost to poor weather and the home side ran out of time to force a result.
The other two matches are against Auckland and Northern Districts.
Canterbury has a relatively gentle run in its remaining matches as well. It hosts Auckland at Hagley Ovaltoday and then has a home-and-away fixture against Central.
Nothing ventured, nothing gained
An outright win could make all the difference at this stage in the season. There are eight points available to each team during the first innings but an outright win is worth 12 points. It is like winning the jackpot.
If Otago gets into a position to chase a target in its match with Central this week, it should pursue the tally with unrelenting courage.
The Plunket Shield is not won by the team which hangs on for the most draws; it is won by the team which wins the most games.
Besides, the Volts can afford the risk of falling short and gifting bottom-placed Central the 12 points.
Lessons from last summer
Otago is still smarting fromits loss to Wellington inthe final game last season.
The Volts capitulated chasing a modest 200 for victory whena win might have beenenough to claim the Plunket Shield.
That can happen in cricket. The opposition is allowed to bowl and play well.
However, that experience seems to be deeply entrenched in Otago's psyche and making amends is a big part of the side's motivation this summer.
What appears to have been forgotten is Otago let an outright win against Canterbury slip away earlier in the season.
Chasing 235 for the win, the Volts bailed out of the chase at 185 for seven with specialist batsman Darren Broom and handy lower-order player Mark Craig still at the crease.
Team orders dictated the pair stonewall and the match ended in a draw. It was a lost opportunity.
Otago will have to play with more courage and conviction in its remaining three matches if it wants to bring an end to its 28-year drought.
