Otago waits as Firebirds take win

Former Otago player and part-time bowler Michael Bracewell took a vital wicket for Wellington in...
Former Otago player and part-time bowler Michael Bracewell took a vital wicket for Wellington in its win against Canterbury yesterday. PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES
The sun is supposed to emerge at the University of Otago Oval today.

But Otago and Auckland will have to get creative if the teams are going to force an unlikely result in their Plunket Shield match.

A damp outfield and rain has prevented any play during the first three days.

However, there has been some very good cricket played in Wellington and Mt Maunganui, though.

Wellington held on to beat Canterbury by 44 runs at the Basin Reserve.

The Firebirds resumed day four on 186 for six and pushed on to reach 247 before declaring.

That left Canterbury chasing 358 to win. Tom Latham (23) and Chad Bowes put on 51 for the first wicket.

But Wellington kept chipping out wickets. Former Otago player and unlikely bowler Michael Bracewell got the key wicket of Henry Nicholls, and Malcolm Nofal accounted for a good chunk of the line-up with four for 100.

Cameron Fletcher's dismissal for 26 left his side perilously placed at 232 for eight. But Andrew Hazeldine launched an audacious counterattack while Will Williams stonewalled at the other end. It kept Canterbury in the game.

But having added 64 for the ninth wicket, Hazeldine spooned a catch into the off side and all hoped ebbed away.

The visitors were eventually dismissed for 313.

At Mt Maunganui, Northern Districts fought back through Black Caps seamers Trent Boult and Neil Wagner. The pair picked up nine second-innings wickets between them to help dismiss Central Districts for 204.

Wagner took five for 62 - his 33rd five-wicket bag - and Boult took four for 68.

Still, Northern was left with a daunting target.

It needed 374 to win and at stumps with a day to play it is 88 for two.

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