Otago was comprehensively outplayed by Wellington in a Plunket Shield fixture in Invercargill yesterday. Volts coach Vaughn Johnson was quick to blame the eight-wicket defeat on poor bowling.
Young pace bowlers Jacob Duffy and Blair Soper were the main offenders.
The pair struggled to make an impact on the Queen's Park pitch. Soper was carted for 82 runs from 14 wicket-less overs. Duffy did not have any success either and was flogged for 77 runs from 14 overs.
Soper was not required in the second innings as Otago captain Derek de Boorder opted to open with spinner Mark Craig.
Duffy was demoted to third change. It was a painful lesson for the pair.
Duffy is just 19 and still honing his craft. Soper is not much older at 22. The pair have played 17 first-class games between them. It is a lot of inexperience.
''It was tough for Soper and Duffs [Duffy],'' Johnson said.
''They both struggled a bit. It is the first real bad game that Soper has had and Jacob has just come back from a bit of a break. I suppose you have to take that on the shoulder and try and keep developing them and try to look after them.
''When you are developing young bowlers it is always hard when they don't have great days. That is the harsh reality of playing first-class cricket. It would be nice to have some more experience but at the moment we haven't got that and have to deal with what we've got.
''Young Duffy and Soper will both be better for what happened in this game and I'm sure they will come right.''
Wellington resumed its first innings on Saturday at 210 for three with Michael Pollard (79) and James Franklin (16) at the wicket.
The pair went on to score centuries and shared in a fourth-wicket stand of 238. The morning session on Saturday proved particularly brutal. Wellington added 151 without loss and Pollard raised his third first-class century. It came off 156 balls and featured 17 boundaries.
He was eventually undone by Jimmy Neesham, on 166, who claimed his second first-class five-wicket bag.
Luke Ronchi responded to a mini slump by taking the attack to Otago. He whacked 55 from 35 balls in a damaging 61-run partnership with Franklin, who hit his 15th first-class ton.
Franklin went for 116 and Neesham ran through the tail. The last wicket fell early yesterday morning leaving Otago trailing by 148.
Openers Aaron Redmond and Neil Broom made a steady start, combining in a 92-run stand. But Broom departed on 46 when he offered a catch off the bowling of Andy McKay. Michael Bracewell joined Redmond and the pair guided Otago to lunch without further loss.
Otago struggled against the spin of Woodcock and former Black Cap Jeetan Patel, losing four wickets in the afternoon session.
Woodcock struck first, nicking out Redmond for 59. Patel then claimed the scalps of Jesse Ryder (5) and Sam Wells (4). Nathan McCullum made one before he was undone by Woodcock.
Neesham then blasted 10 fours and a six in a 38-ball 50.
At tea, Otago was 197 for five and led by 49 runs with five wickets in hand. The match should have been saved but Bracewell and Neesham both lost their wickets shortly after the break. Patel trapped Bracewell in front and Neesham was caught on the midwicket boundary.
Otago had the security of Derek de Boorder batting at No 8 but he went without scoring and Wellington was left chasing a modest target of 82 from 23 overs.
