Cricket: Hawke Cup success for Otago Country, Southland

Southland and Otago Country moved into the outright lead in the southern zone Hawke Cup elimination competition with outright wins over North Otago and Mid Canterbury at the weekend.

North Otago was put into bat by Southland at Queens Park , Invercargill on Saturday morning and at lunch had struggled through to 112 for eight with only Ed Smith (46 not out) showing any resistance. North Otago was dismissed for 132 early in the second session.

Smith was unbeaten on 61. Craig Smith and Jonathan Hodson took three wickets each for Southland. Southland did not find runs easy to come by, either, and at tea was 70 for three with Ryan Duffy on 30. North Otago picked up valuable wickets in the third session to have Southland 190 for nine at stumps on the first day.

Southland added 37 more runs yesterday morning. Duffy (61), Rheubyn Prattley (41) and Mark Beer (42 not out) were the best of the batsmen. Left-arm offspinner Jordan Horrell took the bowling honours for North Otago, with five for 67, off 26 overs, while David Sewellclaimed three for 48.

At lunch on the second day North Otago was 67 for four, after having been 15 for four at one stage, with Duncan Drew (22) and Ed Smith (29) at the crease. North Otago was dismissed midway through the second session yesterday for 116. Smith top-scored with 43 and Duncan Drew added 26, making him the second highest run-scorer in North Otago history, with 2217 runs.

Craig Smith took three for 24 and Michael Grattan four for 32. Southland lost one wicket in posting the 22 runs required for victory. Mid Canterbury won the toss and put Otago Country in to bat in Ashburton on Saturday morning. At lunch, Otago Country was 114 for four with Scott Paulin (35) and Jonathan Homer (22) the best of the batsmen.

Rhys Phillips had taken two for 21.

Otago Country folded in the second session, to be all out for 168 with Richard Anderson (32) and Liam Crowley (20) adding invaluable runs. Phillips finished the innings with four for 23, while Matt Tait took three for 31 and Tom Meyrick two for 48.

At tea Otago Country had Mid Canterbury staggering at 22 for six, Eric Standfield having the outstanding figures of five for four off eight overs. He finished with seven for 22 off 14.4 overs. Mid Canterbury was dismissed for 85 in the third session with Matt Tait (36) and Matt Winter (25) showing that the pitch had few traps.

At stumps Homer (55) and Paulin (31) had taken Otago Country through to 92 without loss, an overall lead of 175.

Otago Country declared its second innings closed at 205 for nine with Homer (56), Paulin (43) and Michael Goldstein (30) the main contributors. Tait took seven for 19 off 11 overs. This left Mid Canterbury the task of scoring 289 to win and at tea it was 149 for four with Rob Polson (29), Ben Ward (24) and Jono Print (39) back in the pavilion and Matt Winter unbeaten on 43.

Mid Canterbury was dismissed for 230, 59 runs short of its target. Winter (46), Tom Meyrick (23) and Rhys Phillips (29) adding valuable runs while Sean Windle took three for 33 and Andrew Hubber, three for 34.

Southland 227/10 (R Duffy 61, R Prattley 41, M Beer 42 not out; J Horrell five for 67, D Sewell three for 48) and 22 for one, an outright win over North Otago 132/10 (E Smith 61 not out; C Smith three for 33, J Hodson three for 25) and 116 ( E Smith 43, D Drew 26; C Smith three for 24, Michael Grattan four for 32).

Otago Country 168/10 (S Paulin 35, J Homer 22, R Anderson 32, L Crowley 20; R Phillips four for 23, M Tait three for 51, Tom Meyrick two for 48) and 205/9 declared (J Homer 56, S Paulin 43, M Goldstein 30; M Tait seven for 19) beat Mid Canterbury 85/10(M Tait 36, M Winter 25; E Standfield seven for 22) and 230/10 (R Polson 29, B Ward 24, J Print 39, M Winter 46, R Phillips 29, T Meyrick 23; S Windle three for 33, B Frost three for 33, A Hubber two for 30 ).

By Terry O'Neill.

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