Black Caps discards Jeetan Patel and Luke Woodcock combined yesterday to save Wellington's blushes with a 118-run partnership for the eighth-wicket, much to Otago's disgust.
Wellington had slumped to 159 for seven before Patel and Woodcock helped the Firebirds recover to reach 292 for nine at stumps on day one of the Plunket Shield fixture at the Basin Reserve.
Patel blazed a rapid half-century and was undefeated on 70, and Woodcock's 5 hour vigil ended when he nicked out to Neil Wagner on 84.
Wagner enhanced his growing reputation, picking up his 10th first-class five-wicket bag with six for 86.
The left-armer shot to fame last summer when he became the first player in the history of first-class cricket to take five wickets in a six-ball over.
The South African-born strike bowler becomes eligible to play for New Zealand at the end of the summer and can expect a prompt call-up.
He is brisk rather than express but his greatest attribute is his ability to swing the ball and pick up wickets in clumps.
All and all it was not a bad day for Otago but coach Vaughn Johnson watched the evening session with a fading sense of humour.
"We won the first two sessions but we've lost the last session with that partnership," Johnson said.
"The pitch has obviously flattened out a bit ... but they added 100-odd.
"Patel's innings was an awful innings really. He nicked a few, he got dropped and some of them have gone over the top of the slips. So I guess you'd say it has been effective, I suppose."
Wellington will resume today in search of at least another eight runs which will secure a second batting bonus point.
Otago dominated the morning session, with Wagner and England international Steven Finn setting the agenda.
Finn bowled without luck but where he went past the edge, Wagner found it.
Wagner picked up two early wickets: the-out-of-form Michael Papps for a 13-ball duck and Stephen Murdoch for a 14-ball duck.
Ian Butler kept the pressure on, picking up the wicket of Grant Elliott to leave Wellington teetering at 23 for three.
Stewart Rhodes did his best to stem the flow of wickets and guided his side through to drinks without further calamity. But, as so often happens, he departed shortly after the resumption. The break disrupted his concentration and he got an edge through to the keeper. Still, his 25 from 91 deliveries got Wellington through a very testing period.
Woodcock joined James Franklin at the wicket and in the fight. Franklin posted a helpful half-century and Harry Boam added 33 before he was undone by Wagner.
Joe Austin-Smellie was run out without scoring but Patel replaced him at the crease and went on the offensive, whacking 50 from 52 deliveries while Woodcock steadfastly held up his end.
Wagner finally got the breakthrough, finding the edge of Woodcock's bat and picked up the bonus wicket of Scott Kuggeleijn with the last delivery of the day.
