Cricket: Attacking force of Otago's Wagner and Finn defeat Canterbury

Neil Wagner. Photo / APN

Canterbury have capitulated at the hands of Neil Wagner and Steve Finn to hand Otago an outright victory on day four of their Plunket Shield clash yesterday.

South African Wagner and Englishman Finn - arguably the most potent new ball partnership in domestic cricket - took seven wickets from a combined 16 overs to bowl out Canterbury for 61. That left Otago chasing 182 for the win, a task they accomplished with the loss of only four wickets.

The match looked set for a draw in the morning but Otago added only seven to their overnight score before declaring on 300. Otago captain Aaron Redmond must have been hoping his declaration would be reciprocated, setting up an afternoon run chase for the Volts, but Redmond's bowling attack ensured no declaration was required.

English international Finn began the carnage at the end of the fifth over when he trapped Rob Nichol in front for three. Wagner removed George Worker with the next ball, and when Finn took out Peter Fulton for a duck an over later, Otago smelled blood.

Nathan McCullum chipped in with a brace of wickets before Wagner cleaned up to finish with figures of 5-33 and seal an unlikely win for Otago.

The only Canterbury batsman to notch double figures was Shanan Stewart, with 29.

Otago sit second behind Auckland after taking 16 points from the match, while Canterbury registered four.

Meanwhile, the rain-affected match between Central and Wellington petered out to a draw in Napier yesterday, the only point of interest surrounding former Black Cap Jamie How's failed attempt at a double century. The Stags ended day three on 267-2 trailing Wellington by 16 runs, but only a further 32.4 overs were played as Central batted out a draw.