The match between Otago Country and South Canterbury at Alexandra this weekend looms as a defining fixture for the zone.
Both sides are equal on eleven points after a washout and a first innings win apiece, and jointly lead the competition.
Otago Country has named an unchanged line-up for the fourth game in a row, which is a little unusual over recent times. The match will be played at Molyneux Park.
This is the side which performed very well two weeks ago against the current Hawke Cup holder, Southland, after batting first and scoring 343.
It gained first innings points after dismissing the visitor for 138 with an impressive bowling display. Although they made a healthy total, the batting will need to kick on in this match, as several batsmen got good starts but failed to capitalise against Southland.
The senior players will be keen to take the lead again in this game and pull the younger brigade through. Cam Jackson does not fail often, and Caleb Carson will be keen to take a full part after illness laid him low during his first outing at this level. Joel Meade and Taylor Cumberland also made a healthy start at this level, while the pace bowling unit in Tom Myles, Sam Blakely, Kevin Loggenberg and Bailey Andrews-Kennedy accounted for seven of Southland’s first innings wickets.
South Canterbury’s first-round game against Mid Canterbury was washed out, and its round two fixture against North Otago was transferred to an artificial pitch at the Pleasant Point Domain.
It batted first, scoring 400 for nine declared. Matt Brown, Josh Smallridge, Phil Lill, Liam Beck and Will Sharp all made useful scores, without anyone kicking on.
Opening bowler Stan Mair then toiled through a touch over 21 overs, picking up five for 42 to make a significant contribution to dismissing North Otago for 278 and complete a good first innings result.
This will be a keenly-fought contest and whoever wins will be in the box seat to press on for a challenge for the coveted trophy against Southland in early February.
Molyneux Park has not escaped the unseasonable wet weather around the region, and the ground staff have been working hard to produce a good surface for the teams to perform on.
In Invercargill, Southland will face North Otago, with the visiting side keen to get some impetus into its campaign.
- Malcolm Jones
Otago Country v S. Canty
Alexandra, today
Otago Country: James Pyle (captain), Taylor Cumberland, Joel Meade, Cameron Jackson, Reuben Pyle, Tim McCormick, Bailey Andrews-Kennedy, Caleb Carson, Barry White, Kevin Loggenberg, Sam Blakely, Tom Myles.
South Canterbury: Jacob Naylor (captain), George Morgan, Matt Brown, Josh Smallridge, Liam Beck, Adam Beck, Sam Carlaw, Phil Lill, Mark Otley, Stan Mair, Craig Hinton, William Sharp.
