Otago hold out for draw at Lincoln Green

Otago's batsmen were given a thorough working out by the New Zealand Academy Selection at Lincoln Green yesterday, before the match ended as a draw with Otago 159 runs behind the Academy Selection with only two wickets in hand.

The day had been affected by heavy rain just after noon and nearly three hours of play were lost. Otago were 63 for 2 when the rain began, Craig Cumming and Robert Lawson attempting to rebuild momentum after opener Mohammad Wasim and Chris Gaffeney were dismissed when there were only 28 runs on the board.

The Academy Selection's bowling options were disrupted when Richard Sherlock, bowling first change, suffered a twisted ankle when bowling the first ball of his second over. Lawson, after showing some of his attacking skills, was bowled by Michael Mason for 36.

Cumming proved the key batsman for Otago, as he was last summer, and he had a fine contest with Shane Bond, the New Zealand fast bowler who is using the series as a build-up for his return to international play. Cumming showed his patience, taking 134 balls over his half-century and was on 59 when he was dismissed, caught behind by Griggs from Neil Broom's bowling.

It then became a battle of survival for the Otago side and they eventually made it home on what was a chilly day. Mark Richardson added to the dramatics of the day by claiming a wicket, trapping Warren McSkimming leg before wicket, an appeal that umpire Doug Cowie was unable to deny.

New Zealand Academy Selection 349-9 dec (J Ryder 97, M Richardson 75, R Taylor 52, P Fulton 43, B Scott 3-67, W McSkimming 3-85) met Otago 190-8 (C Cumming 59, R Lawson 36, G Hopkins 34, N Broom 2-29, M Mason 2-52).