All-out attack on the Otago Country bowlers has reignited South Canterbury’s Hawke Cup campaign.
The green and blacks’ unlikely four wicket win in Alexandra yesterday means a do-or-die clash against Southland in the final round-robin game at Aorangi Oval on January 22-23.
Victory could be enough to give South Canterbury a Hawke Cup challenge.
The first day of the weekend’s match saw fluctuating fortunes.
Returning paceman Glenn Matthews tore through the Otago Country batting line-up, taking six for 47 in a spell which spear-headed the home side’s collapse for just 153. Kevin Teahen also picked up three wickets.
Just as South Canterbury supporters were smiling again, the batting blunders struck.
The team undid all their good work with yet another hopeless display with the bat, being rolled for 148, and giving up crucial first innings points.
South Canterbury lost their last eight wickets for 89 runs, with Matthews hitting a quick 40, which was not quite enough.
Otago Country batted out the rest of the day and were 70 for 2 at stumps.
They batted-on for much of yesterday, with all the South Canterbury bowlers working hard to make breakthroughs.
Jared Andrew made 70 for Otago Country, while Cameron Rutherford made 66, to frustrate the South Canterbury bowlers.
Matthews, Craig Hinton and Dan Laming all ended with two wickets for the innings.
Eventually the declaration came with the home team 288 for nine, leaving South Canterbury 294 to win from 64 overs, on the out-of-character Molyneux Park pitch.
Temuka’s Richie Preston immediately set the tone for the chase, as South Canterbury raced at excess of six runs an over for the opening 20 overs.
Preston’s better than a run-a-ball 110, proved the perfect platform for his side.
He was backed-up by Jeremy Liddy with 57 and Dan Laming who added 37, and South Canterbury reached their target with three overs to spare.