Horne leads Otago to Southern derby success

The fourth day of the Otago verus Canterbury Shell Trophy Game at Molyneux Park was never going to last too long whichever way it went.

Otago required 108 runs for outright victory and Canterbury 9 wickets. There was an outside chance that Otago might crumble and fall short of their target but for that to be achieved they would have had to bat very badly and Canterbury bowl extremely well.

Neither scenario happened and Otago achieved their 55th first-class victory over their Northern neighbours since 1863/64 and gained six points for their outright victory.

In retrospect their first innings lead of 78 runs proved so valuable for their cause and Canterbury never quite caught up.

Matthew Horne, the Otago captain, led his side well both by example and in his handling of the Otago bowlers on a hot afternoon when energy conservation was essential. His 100 and 50 in the match were of major importance and it cannot be stressed how valuable they were to a final Otago victory. The winning of the toss by Otago probably had a major effect in that Canterbury were only able to score 201 in their first innings and then the wicket lost some of its greeness to enable Otago to gain that first innings lead.

Canterbury in their second innings fared little better and the Otago effort in the field on the very hot third day was so important.

Although the Otago bowling on the first day was rather wayward at times overall it seemed to be more penetrative than Canterbury's but in Stephen Cunis Canterbury have a player of true grit as his first innings figures show.

Match number 153 between the two provinces has gone Otago's way but things might well have been different if Matthew Horne had not been there for the home side.