Canterbury take outright win with 10 balls to spare

Canterbury achieved the early breakthrough necessary to force Otago to follow on, bundled them out a second time and chased down the nominal target to win easily. Otago fought to the last, though. Chris Gaffaney gave them a great chance of saving the match but was finally out for 76. Warren Wisneski had been the early bugbear for Otago, taking the first four wickets to fall in the innings.

For a long period it seemed that Canterbury would cruise to an innings win, but a spirited 75-minute stand for the last wicket between David Sewell and Bradley Scott kept the situation tight. They added only 38 runs, but the time they used up caused Canterbury to unravel as they made silly, unforced mistakes that only extended their agony.

Finally, however, a breakthrough came when Stephen Cunis managed to effect a direct run out, throwing side-on with only one stump in view. It was a doubtful run in the first instance and Otago paid the price.

Canterbury needed 68 in 15 overs. They lost three wickets in the process as Jeff Wilson continued the hold he had over the Cantabrians. He followed his five wickets in the first innings with two more before Canterbury finally got home with 10 balls to spare, Wilson finishing with 2 for 24. Canterbury moved to the top of the State Championship points table by taking the maximum eight points from the game.