Nick Beard spun Otago to victory in their Plunket Shield cricket match against Auckland in Dunedin today.
The 20-year-old orthodox left-arm spinner grabbed career-best figures of six for 107 as Auckland were dismissed for 333 in their second innings late on the fourth and final day at University Oval, leaving Otago the victors by 24 runs.
Just over five overs remained when Beard collected his sixth and final wicket, bowling tailender Michael Bates for one to end a marathon spell of 36.5 overs.
In just his ninth first-class outing, Beard was the go-to man for captain Craig Cumming, who declared his team's second innings at 208 for three this morning, leaving Greg Todd unbeaten on 66.
Cumming left Auckland a target of 358 off 100 overs and the early indications were that they would get there in some comfort as Tim McIntosh and Jeet Raval shared an opening stand of 149.
But one ball after Raval's departure for 58, bowled by left-arm quick Neil Wagner, McIntosh was undone on 89 by Beard, who induced a catch to slip for Cumming.
From that stage Beard took control, accounting for Richard Jones, Reece Young, Anaru Kitchen and Colin de Grandhomme to rip the heart out of the Auckland innings.
Wagner also played the support role expertly to take three for 76.
