Cricket: Sodhi at best with bat and ball makes Otago struggle

Ish Sodhi.
Ish Sodhi.
What a day for Ish Sodhi.

But not for Otago.

The Black Caps legspinner took five for 27 to help dismiss the home side for a modest 189 at the University Oval yesterday.

Earlier, he had clubbed 82 not out as Northern Districts posted 380 in its first innings.

They were both personal bests for the amiable 22-year-old.

''Obviously, it is nice to get some reward for all the work you put in,'' Sodhi said.

''I was pretty lucky with the bat. I got a few nicks which went through the slips. But you just have to ride those days as best you can.''

With the ball, he was threatening from the start, trapping Brad Rodden with his second delivery and using the wrong 'un to baffle the tail.

He even picked up the wicket of fellow New Zealand spinner Mark Craig with the delivery.

''I'm actually very, very happy with where I was pitching the wrong 'un because I've been working on it quite a bit in the nets over the last couple of days.

''I very happy with how today went and to put ourselves in a pretty good position is helpful.''

Northern resisted enforcing the follow-on and came out to bat for two overs, reaching four without loss at stumps.

The visiting side leads by 195 with two days remaining.

Northern resumed at 188 for five. With two new batsmen at the crease and some helpful cloud cover, there was a real promise of early wickets for Otago.

Mitchell Santner, who also bowled wonderfully, taking two for six, offered the home side the first opportunity, pushing a tough return catch past the ankles of Neil Wagner. Santner was on 16 and went on to post 45 before he nicked out.

Tim Seifert (49), who gave two chances on 17, and Sodhi combined in a damaging 88-run stand for the eighth-wicket.

Jacob Duffy appeared to have the edge of Sodhi's bat on a string at one stage, though.

Wagner finished with four for 99 and Duffy bounced backed from a disappointing start to the match with three for 79.

The reply got off to a brisk start and the Volts' 50 came up after just 47 balls and 33 minutes.

But the promising partnership ended next ball, when Aaron Redmond tried to cut a delivery, which cramped him for space, and chopped on.

Michael Bracewell got caught on the crease and feathered an edge. His replacement, Ryan Duffy, got a cracking delivery from Scott Kuggeleijn.

It deviated just enough to whizz past the bat and crash into the top of middle and off.

That left Otago teetering at 87 for three.

Hamish Rutherford endured a brutal spell of short-pitched bowling from Kuggeleijn.

He ducked into one which caught him flush on the helmet, but responded by chipping the bowler back down the ground to raise his 50.

The final hour, though, belonged to Sodhi and Santner. Otago was 140 for three at drinks and lost the last seven wickets for 49 runs.

The spin twins took all of them.

Rodden fell first, then Derek de Boorder, who got bogged down, went back when he should have gone forward and was trapped in front by Sodhi.

Craig holed out to Sodhi's wrong 'un, debutant Michael Rae was bowled by another, and Duffy could not pick which way Sodhi was turning the ball, either.

Santner bowled Wagner and picking up the danger man, Rutherford, for 78, when he grew tired of watching his support get out and skied a lofted drive.

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