South Canterbury’s Jack Harper plays a loose shot against North Otago in their Hawke Cup Southern Zone 4 match at Milner Park, but would score an unbeatn century in his second innings.
South Canterbury’s batsmen will be rueing some soft dismissals in their first innings loss to North Otago in a southern zone Hawke Cup match at Milner Park, Oamaru, at the weekend.
The visitors were asked to bat first and made 223, a score South Canterbury player-coach Nick Horsley thought was below par. North Otago replied with 278.
“We just didn’t make enough runs, it was a pretty good pitch to bat on but we didn’t quite adjust properly and them winning the toss was pretty crucial in the outcome of this match,” he said.
“We’d have bowled first as well if we won the toss.”
Horsley said they played far too many erratic shots.
“Some of our batsmen got themselves out very cheaply, myself included. Arthur [Prabodha Arthavidu] and Drakey [Glen Drake] showed us how to bat.”
Horsley said North Otago deserved their win.
“We were probably 50 runs light and all credit to them they batted really well.”
He said there were a number of positives.
“Arthur and Drakey batted superbly and then Jack and Drakey again in the second innings applied themselves and scored runs.”
Opener Phill Lill lasted just two balls when he flayed his bat at a wide Francois Mostert delivery and nicked it to Andrew Grubb.
Fellow opener Adam Beck was dismissed shortly after, pushing at a delivery from the South African quick that found the hands of Brady Kingan at mid off.
Jack Harper, who batted at four made his way to 10, before he became Mostert’s third victim when he edged a delivery to Stephan Grobler at second slip.
Horsley came to the crease and wasted no time getting himself to 13 before he became Mostert’s fourth victim after playing a ball too early and spooning it to mid off on a pitch that was two-paced.
At 56-4 South Canterbury looked like they could be bowled out in a hurry but Arthavidu (91) and Gen Drake (56) put up a good fight.
The pair stuck around and frustrated the North Otago bowling attack and once comfortable with the pace of the wicket, played some cracking cricket shots.
Arthavidu reached his 50 off 66 balls, while Drake reached his half century off 73 balls.
The pair put on 118 runs runs before Arthavidu, who looked certain to score a hundred until the lunch break came, fell after misreading a slider from leg-spinner Grobler.
When Drake perished nine runs later with the score at 183-6, South Canterbury’s target of 300 was a long way out of reach.
Mostert starred for North Otago, taking 7-60 off 19 overs and Grobler, also South African, grabbed 3-61.
In reply, North Otago made it through to 278 and a crucial 55-run lead thanks to a fighting 81 from Jeremy Smith. He was supported by opener Ben Cant (53) and Llew Johnson (55 not out).
Stanley Mair took three wickets for the visiting side along with captain Sam Carlaw, while Jack Harper picked up two.
South Canterbury’s second innings was a better one with Harper scoring 103 not out and Drake scoring his second half century of the match.
They declared at 230-7 but ran out of time to force a result, with North Otago 30 without loss when the match was called off.
“We did quite well to try and make a game of it and set a total for them but 25 overs wasn’t enough to bowl them out,” Horsley said.