Otago spun itself into a commanding position in its Plunket Shield match against Canterbury in Invercargill yesterday.
Off-spinner Mark Craig was in his element on a surface which was offering plenty of turn.
He took four for 40 from 23 overs and part-time left-arm spinner Anaru Kitchen bagged two for 20.
New-ball bowlers Jacob Duffy and Craig Smith kept the pressure on with a probing line and length and picked up one wicket apiece.
A couple of runouts also proved damaging for Canterbury. The visitors could muster only 180 in reply to Otago's first innings total of 351.
Otago will begin its second innings today with a healthy lead of 171.
But day two did not start well for the home team. Classy right-hander Neil Broom was unable to add to his overnight total of 117. He was bowled by Kyle Jamieson who impressed with three for 54 from 25 overs.
Broom's departure robbed the innings of some punch and Canterbury made good progress through the middle and lower order.
Craig (9), Christi Viljoen (4), Smith (2) and Duffy (6) departed quickly and the Volts slumped from 285 for five to 306 for nine.
No11 Jack Hunter held his end up with 10 not out and Derek de Boorder got stuck in at the other, clipping 11 boundaries and striking a couple of sixes in a valuable knock of 69. He holed out off the bowling of Todd Astle but Otago put on 45 for the last wicket.
‘‘It was a bit of a strange start to the day,'' coach Nathan King said.
‘‘We weren't able to capitalise on our score from [Tuesday] but that last partnership between Derek and Jack Hunter was really important. It just gave us that psychological edge, knowing we had posted 350.''
While it seemed as if Otago had let an opportunity to post a larger score slip, it soon became apparent just how well it had batted on a surface which is taking considerable turn.
Canterbury played a part in its own demise.
Chad Bowes had looked in good touch but spent too long watching the ball and not enough time sprinting to the other end. Duffy's throw hit the stumps and Bowes' promising innings of 30 was snuffed out by at least a metre.
Astle's runout was a lot closer - too tight to tell from the replay, but some slick work from de Boorder nonetheless.
At the Basin Reserve, Northern Districts declared at 438 for eight. Its innings had a solid look with five batsmen scoring 50 or more though no-one went on. Wellington is 94 for two in reply.
In Auckland, Central Districts are 404 for six in reply to Auckland's first innings total of 373. Will Young made 85 and Tom Bruce 80. Dane Cleaver is 61 not out.
