Cricket: Otago crumples vs Auckland, Wellington lead ND

Otago seem likely to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory after a dramatic batting collapse in the State Championship cricket match against Auckland in Dunedin yesterday.

Needing only 112 runs for victory, Otago crumbled to 93 for nine when rain stopped play just after 4.30pm on the third day at University Oval.

The rot set in for Otago shortly after lunch when captain Chris Gaffaney played an expansive drive only to be bowled for 10.

He was soon joined by a succession of teammates who failed to get a start, among them Aaron Redmond, Jordan Sheed, who completed a pair for the match, and Marcel McKenzie.

At 22 for four, Greg Todd and Gareth Hopkins stemmed the procession of wickets - temporarily - before normal service resumed.

Hopkins went for nine and Todd departed for 25 before Nathan McCullum joined them for 16.

Otago coach Glenn Turner put the batting collapse down to a combination of overhead conditions and the nature of the pitch.

"But it was disappointing that we got ourselves into a position where we are going to be lucky to win."

Auckland had resumed yesterday in trouble, thanks to a devastating spell of bowling from Warren McSkimming.

The competition leaders were forced to follow on after making 101 in reply to Otago's first innings of 268, and were 161 for seven at stumps on Saturday, six runs short of forcing Otago to bat a second time.

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At the Basin Reserve in Wellington yesterday, Stu Mills played the unlikely hero as the hosts restored a slight advantage over Northern Districts.

The northerners will need 264 to win on the final day today with 10 wickets in hand after Wellington recovered from another mediocre top-order batting effort to reach 255 on day three.

In Wellington's favour are three innings in this match under 260 but a niggling hamstring injury to pace bowler Mark Gillespie will not help.

Northern will be less concerned about a bicep strain that saw dropped Black Cap Daryl Tuffey finish the day on the sidelines.

Wellington coach Vaughn Johnson felt his side had not posted enough to be confident going into the final day.

But for Mills, Johnson's pessimism could have carried far more weight.

Resuming their second innings at 22 for one, Wellington slumped to 106 for six. But Mills and Graham Murray had other ideas.

The diminutive pair put on 86 runs for the seventh wicket and perhaps more importantly took their side through to the 84th over before Murray was bowled for 33.

By the time Mills departed in the 93rd over for 64, he had batted Wellington back into the match with a late Jeetan Patel (34 not out) cameo placing the match in the balance heading into the final day.

- NZPA