Fluctuating fortunes in Otago match

Press, 28 December 1979, Page 20

Fluctuating fortunes in Otago match

PA Dunedin I It was a day of fluctuat-l; ing fortunes when the Shell Trophy match between Otago and Northern districts began at Carisbrook, Dunedin yesterday. Both sides gained and then lost the initiative during the day and the match was evenly poised when I stumps were drawn last I evening. Northern Districts made an early breakthrough, after I Warren Lees won the toss and elected to bat. Stu i McCullum, the Otago open-1 :er. was bowled by Stuart; ! Gillespie. However, two good part-1

Inerships between Glennie (Turner and lan Rutherford;! land Rutherford and Wayneji Blair restored the Otago in-1: nings. | Northern again gained the 1 upper hand when Otago lost 1 three wickets for only 26 runs to be 136 for five, but ’ Bruce Blair and John Brace- 1 well came together with a ■ stand of 79 runs, Bruce Blair 1 ’ batting 120 minutes for his] 1 53 runs. • Otago batted through tot ; 231 runs at the end of its!; i allocated 100 overs. I’ .1 Northern began its innings! (badly, losing Grant Gibson!, I in Lance Cairns’s second I!

over but John Wright and i Geoff Howarth took Northern comfortably through to ;56 for one at the close. i Rain seeped through the covers on Tuesday, making the pitch damp and lifeless. Howarth looks to be a threat to Otago today with his score at 34 overnight. John Wright progressed quietly to 16 hot out after |Grant Gibson was caught at I second slip by Bracewell 'when Wayne Blair, fielding ■at second slip, was able to I flick a sharp chance off jCiarns’s bowling up to him. > Performance points at the: lend of the first day were:; ■ Otago, two batting: Northern! (Districts, three bowling. !