http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Otago-c829 vs Canterbury - Plunket Shield 2012/13 - Match ends in a draw - Match Update
Leading by 31 runs with 3 wickets remaining, the balance hung slightly in favour of Canterbury until the umpires called off the final day, ending the match in a draw in their latest encounter against Otago, at University Oval, Dunedin.
Having won the toss, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/SL-Stewart-c2541 ensured a firm footing for the visitors.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Stewart-c91370 batted well for his side, but kept running out of partners on the other end until his own demise at a score of 76, off the bowling of Jacob Duffy.
After being 176 for 2 at one point, Canterbury could not capitalise on the solid start provided by the top order. Putting 3 wickets each to their name, Duffy and Mark Craig were the pick of the bowlers for Otago.
In reply, the home team got off to a fair start of 41 runs from the opening pair until the wickets started tumbling one after the other. http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Hamish-Duncan-Rutherford-c61359 was the highest scorer of the innings (46) for Otago before he was cleaned up by Ben McCord.
Their middle-order, being an utter disappointment, could not affect the score card significantly, leaving the responsibility on the lower order, which rose up to the occasion. A contribution of 40 runs each by Neesham and Craig, alongside an alluring knock of 41 runs by Ian Buttler, aided their side to fetch a small lead of 18 runs at the close of their first inning.
Tim Johnston picked up 3, while http://www.senore.com/Cricket/William-Meehan-Lonsdale-c97593, McCord & Cole McConchie had a pair each to their names for Canterbury.
The visitors' second innings was not much different than their first. Another Century by Fulton and a couple of twenties by http://www.senore.com/Cricket/George-Herrick-Worker-c59349, Stewart and Henry Nicholls helped their team reach an aggregate of 252 runs. For Otago, Buttler and Craig stood out for putting 2 wickets each under their belts.
With a target of 235 and less than a day to spare, it was never going to be an easy task for Otago to try and win the game. A 61 by http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Neil-Broom-c2090 saved the day for the home team as Canterbury were just 3 victims away from nailing a win until the stumps were called, ending the game without any result.
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