Some sweet striking and a superb century from Scott Styris went without reward when rain stopped play between Otago and Northern Districts yesterday.
The Northern Districts all-rounder held his side's innings together with an undefeated 118 from 109 deliveries to help the Knights reach 201 for nine at Queen's Park, in Invercargill.
Had Otago been able to remove the troublesome Styris, there might have been time to win the match.
But rain closed in after 45 overs and no further play was possible.
Both sides had to settle for two competition points.
Otago will feel it had the better of what play was available.
Northern won the toss and elected to bat but was immediate in trouble.
Left-armer Craig Smith trapped the dangerous Brad Wilson in front and fast bowler James McMillan took two for 16 in an impressive opening four over spell.
Reeling at 73 for five, Styris and Peter McGlashan added 70 for the sixth wicket in the only partnership of any note.
McGlashan (33) was eventually trapped leg before wicket by Nathan McCullum.
But Styris kept up the vigil, holding up an end up for his side in desperate hope another team-mate would stick around.
With wickets continuing to tumble, the experienced right-hander opened his shoulders and, in his last nine scoring shots, plundered 38 runs - four 6s, three 4s and two singles - in a wonderful display of power-hitting.
Part-time leg spinner Aaron Redmond picked up two wickets in a three over spell and McCullum, fresh from a five-wicket bag, bowled well, taking two for 38.
McMillan was the pick of the bowlers, with three for 26 from eight overs.
In the other matches played yesterday, Auckland went to the top of the national one-day cricket standings after it notched its third win in a row with a 40-run defeat of Central Districts at Colin Maiden Park.
Canterbury beat Wellington by 59 runs at Christchurch.
Boosted by half centuries from opener Jeet Raval and Colin Munro, Auckland scored 279 for nine after winning the toss and opting to bat first.
In reply, Central Districts could only muster 239 all out in the final over with opener George Worker, who scored a breezy 57 off 64 balls, the major contributor.
Raval (54) and Munro (68) got valuable support from Gareth Hopkins (43), while a wagging tail of Roneel Hira and Daryl Tuffey, 36 each, ensured Auckland achieved a healthy total.
Tarun Nethula (three for 46) and Mitchell McClenaghan (three for 73) were the best of the Central bowlers.
In Christchurch, Canterbury put on 237 for eight after openers Rob Nicol (84) and Michael Papps (48) featured in an opening stand of 100 for the first wicket.
Shanan Stewart weighed in with a quickfire 54 off 52 balls and Andy Ellis chimed in with 30 off 22 balls to reinforce Canterbury's score.
Luke Woodcock celebrated his call-up to New Zealand's World Cup squad with four for 40.
