Otago need to find a way to remove Henry Nicholls quickly.
The Volts have moved into a strong position in their Plunket Shield match against Canterbury at Hagley Oval.
They have dominated a good portion of the opening two days.
They made 296, while Canterbury is teetering at 159 for seven.
But Nicholls is unbeaten on 62, and if anyone can help the home side slip out from under the ropes, it is the classy left-hander.
He bagged back-to-back centuries against Otago earlier in the season and looked in good touch again yesterday.
He sent a series of deliveries back down the ground for four, and Otago will not want him to get established at the crease this morning.
The Volts arguably squandered an opportunity to put Canterbury under a lot more pressure.
The top three all made half centuries, and Thorn Parks was well set on 43.
But Canterbury kept chipping away with the ball
Opener Jacob Cumming went first. He feathered an edge through to the keeper for 58. Fellow opener Jack Boyle pressed on and combined with rookie Tom Jones in a partnership of 92.
Otago had got through to 182 for one when Boyle perished for 62.
Sean Davey found the edge of his bat.
Jones trudged back to the dressing room shortly after. He got trapped lbw for 57 by Michael Rae.
Maybe that delivery was missing leg. The batter appeared to think so. Rae thought it was hitting, and so did the umpire.
Luke Georgeson (11), Parkes and Troy Johnson (0) all departed within a five-over stretch.
Davey (four for 45) and Sheat (three for 59) had wrestled back the momentum and did well to restrict Otago to under 300.
Thomas O’Connor picked up a big scalp early. He trapped test captain Tom Latham lbw for four.
The Canterbury left-handed opener paid the price for shouldering arms.
Scott Janett could not get set either and went for seven.
Rhys Mariu (33) and Nicholls put on 47 for the third wicket.
Mariu flicked a delivery from Matt Bacon to O’Connor, and a flurry of wickets followed.
Canterbury slumped to 152 for seven and had added a further seven runs when poor weather brought an early end to the day.
The match between Auckland and Northern Districts at Eden Park Outer Oval has taken a sudden turn.
Auckland were rolled for 283 but rallied to dismiss the visitors for 288. However, they have crashed to 92 for six in their second innings. Zak Gibson and Scott Kuggeleijn have three wickets apiece.
Wellington is in the box seat in Napier. Openers Jesse Tashkoff (109) and Nick Greenwood (143) posted centuries to help the Firebirds register 401.
Central Districts are 251 for seven in reply. Brad Schmulian is undefeated on 104.
PLUNKET SHIELD
OTAGO
J Boyle c Nicholls b Davey 62
J Cumming c Hay b Sheat 58
T Jones lbw Rae 57
T Parkes c Nicholls b Davey 43
L Georgeson c Boyle b Sheat 11
M Chu c Latham b Davey 19
T Johnson lbw Davey 0
T O’Connor s Janett b Sheat 5
D Ferns c Hay b Cameron 7
M Bacon not out 13
J McKay c Carter b Rae 12
Extras (4lb, 4wd, 1nb):9
Total (all out, 102.5 overs):296
Fall: 1-90, 2-182, 3-195, 4-235, 5-243, 6-243, 7-252, 8-266, 9-277, 10-296.
Bowling: F Sheat 23-9-59-3 (1wd), S Davey 23-9-48-4 (1nb), C Cameron 17-1-78-1 (1wd), M Rae 21.5-4-70-2 (1wd), M Boyle 16-6-35-0, Rhys Mariu 2-1-2-0 (1wd).
CANTERBURY
T Latham lbw O’Connor 4
R Mariu c O’Connor b Bacon 33
S Janett c Cumming b Georgeson 7
H Nicholls not out 62
M Boyle c Chu b McKay 15
M Hay b Georgeson 10
L Carter c Chu b Georgeson 0
S Davey c Boyle b McKay 12
F Sheat not out 4
Extras (7lb, 5wd):12
Total (for 7 wkts in 39.4 overs):159
Fall: 1-7, 2-26, 3-73, 4-110, 5-127, 6-127, 7-152
Bowling: L Georgeson 11-1-29-3, T O'Connor 6-1-31-1, D Ferns 7-1-34-0, M Bacon 4-0-16-1 (1wd), J McKay 11-0-41-2, J Boyle 0.4-0-1-0.
