Craig Hinton runs into bowl against North Otago at Aorangi Oval. He helped himself to five wickets.
Star duo Craig Hinton and Matt Brown showed their class for South Canterbury in a losing cause against North Otago.
South Canterbury’s talented batting lineup again failed to fire as Brown and Adam Beck were the only players to make the most of their opportunities.
The top order featuring, George Morgan, Jacob Naylor (13), Willie Stone and Liam Beck were all gone with South Canterbury on just 20.
Captain Glen Drake, Phil Lill and allrounder Shaun Rooney also came and went in quick succession.
For the second week in a row, South Canterbury had to rely on Brown to get them out of a hole and he did just that.
The allrounder, who came to the crease in the ninth over, three earlier than last week, had to go about rescuing South Canterbury.
He played a number of quality shots and was able to score with more freedom.
Brown’s 86, his highest score for South Canterbury, came off 93 balls and featured 15 fours.
Adam Beck, who hit a classy 43 batting at number nine, put on 82 with Brown in a key seventh wicket partnership.
When Brown departed to a good catch just 14 runs shy of his 100, Beck took on the aggressive approach, slapping six consecutive boundaries.
He was the last to fall as South Canterbury made 168, a defendable score after their early troubles.
North Otago opening bowler Brad Fleming was superb nabbing four wickets.
Hinton led the way with the ball as he nabbed his good mate, North Otago’s Duncan Drew caught behind with his second delivery.
He was at it again soon after removing Jordan Cafferkey to a good catch in the slips by George Morgan and had Francois Mostert leg before wicket.
Hinton also ran out Brady Kingan off his own bowling.
At 26-4, the match was evenly balanced before a 94-run partnership from Jeremy Smith (73) and Lachie Kingan (42), turned the game the way of the visitors.
The pair played a number of strong shots and wrestled the momentum back from South Canterbury.
Hinton then returned to pick up both Smith and Kingan to make it five wickets for the day and he was unlucky not to have more.
Three dropped chances in his final over meant James Ferris (22no) and Regan George (21no) were able to guide North Otago to victory.
Hinton starred with 5-40, while George McDougall also went well for no reward.
Short Scorecard
South Canterbury 168 (M Brown 86, A Beck 43; B Fleming 4-21, J Ferris 3-20) lost to North Otago 170-6 (J Smith 73, L Kingan 42, J Ferris 22*, R George 21*; C Hinton 5-40) by four wickets.