Central Districts medium pacer Navin Patel ripped through the Otago batting line-up to claim his maiden first-class five-wicket bag at the University Oval yesterday.
The right arm medium pacer took five for 72 as Otago collapsed to be all out for 198 in reply to Central's first innings total of 258.
With a day to play Central is 194 for six, a lead of 254.
International prospect Will Young played nicely for his 83.
It was his eighth first-class 50 this season.
He has been remarkably consistent but will be disappointed with his dismissal.
The 23-year-old has not been able to add to his two first-class hundreds this season and threw away another opportunity, slicing a drive to point.
But Patel claimed the limelight.
He got the ball to swing and nip around on a lively deck.
Otago resumed on four for two.
Day two had been abandoned without a ball bowled, but Central made rapid progress through the Volts batting line-up and caught up some valuable time.
Opener Brad Wilson got an edge to an inswinging delivery from Doug Bracewell and had to depart for eight from 46 balls.
Bracewell completely baffled Anaru Kitchen (25).
He shouldered arms, only to hear his off stump get knocked out of the ground by a delivery which jagged back.
Michael Bracewell extended his poor run of form with an edge on 19. Jimmy Neesham went for 11 and Derek de Boorder perished for 19, leaving Otago 84 for seven.
Josh Finnie and Christi Viljoen approached adversity with courage and took the attack back to Central.
Viljoen thumped a drive down back the ground early during his fine knock of 48 from 50 balls.
Patel claims five in Otago collapse> From Page 44Finnie enjoyed some luck getting through to 52 from 69.
A couple of shots went down to the third man boundary but the batsman played nice and late, a little bit like Kane Williamson does.
He also dispatched a nice cut shot or two and a drive down the ground.
Eventually he skied one and was caught at point.
The pair added 104 for the eighth wicket and helped partly fill the hole the Volts had dug.
Patel claimed both wickets and then removed Jacob Duffy to complete his five-wicket haul.
The Otago strike bowler holed out at mid-off, looking to hit the ball out of the park.
At the Basin Reserve Auckland has recovered from a poor beginning to the game and is 543 for seven at stumps.
It leads Wellington by 459 runs with a day to play.
Openers Michael Guptill-Bunce (189) and Jeet Raval (90) set the platform with an opening stand of 215.
At Hagley Oval, Northern Districts is 203 for four and leads Canterbury by 130 runs. Bharat Popli is undefeated on 36 and went past 1000 runs for the season when he reached 32.
