Heavy rain overnight on Saturday led to the second day of the Hawke Cup elimination game between South Canterbury and North Otago being abandoned without a ball being bowled yesterday morning.
Both sides will receive three points from the game.
South Canterbury won the toss at Aorangi Park on Saturday morning and put North Otago in.
South Canterbury struck early when left-arm quickie Nathan McNicol, fresh from his tournament play with Canterbury A, took the wickets of North Otago openers Duncan Drew (two) and Dallas Mahuika (nought) to have the visiting side four for two. Craig Smith (34) and Jeremy Smith (28) added 60 runs for the third wicket before Craig Smith was the third wicket to fall.
Jeremy Smith and Francois Mostert added a further 26 runs for the fourth wicket before Smith was run out by Mark Otley for 28.
Incoming batsmen Brady Kingan went without addition to the total before Regan George joined Mostert. The pair produced a sixth-wicket stand of 82 before George went for 49. Sam Baston went with the total at 187 before Mostert was joined by Blake James. With Mostert the dominating partner, the pair featured in an eight-wicket stand of 118 before James (35) was dismissed at 305. Jonty Naylor joined Mostert (133 not out) and he added two runs before North Otago declared at 309 for eight. Mostert’s fine innings came in 251 minutes from 200 balls and included 25 boundaries. Bowling for South Canterbury McNichol took four for 73, Sam Carlaw two for 52 and Mark Otley one for 64.
When rain stopped play on Saturday, South Canterbury was nine without loss after facing 16 balls.
The game between Southland and Mid Canterbury in Invercargill game was finally abandoned early on Sunday afternoon because of rain.
Southland batted first and made 184. Mid Canterbury was dismissed for 68 in its first innings, Jason Osborne taking five for 18 for Southland. Following on, Mid Canterbury 88 was without loss in its second innings at stumps on the first day.
Southland gained six points for its first innings-win taking it into the lead in zone four with 18 points, ahead of South Canterbury (15), Otago Country (12), North Otago (three) and Mid Canterbury (nought).
- Terry O'Neill