Cricket: Otago ends Northern winning streak

Otago brought Northern Districts three-game winning streak to an end with an 11-run in an HRV Cup match at Seddon Park in Hamilton tonight.

Dutch import Ryan ten Doeschate starred with the bat, scoring 65 from 45 deliveries to help Otago post 173 for seven.

Spinner Nick Beard and seamer Ian Butler closed the gate with some superb bowling in the middle stages to help restrict Northern to 162 for eight.

Butler picked up the key wicket of Scott Styris and Beard captured the wickets of Black Cap Daniel Flynn (1) and English professional Steven Croft (30 off 30) in the 15th over to finish with three for 26 from four overs.

Black Caps Tim Southee (21 off 10) and BJ Watling (35 off 17) tried to get the 51 runs needed off the last three overs and got pretty close.

Earlier, Otago had slumped to three for 15 with Aaron Redmond spooning an ugly cross-bat shot straight back to the bowler Anton Devcich. Hamish Rutherford over committed and was run out at the non-striker's end, and Neil Broom charged Southee and got a healthy edge.

At the half way stage, Otago was 46 for four and in desperate need of a substantial partnership.

Ten Doeschate and Bracewell provided the relief. The pair added 66 for the fifth wicket.
Ten Doeschate probably took 15 or 20 deliveries before he started to really get going. He whacked five fours and two sixes in a fine innings.

Bracewell (31 off 20) chimed in with some crisp lofted drives and some chunky shots over midwicket as the pair brought up their 50-run partnership off just 32 balls.

They dragged Otago back into the match and some lusty blows from Butler (12 off 5) and James Fuller, who swatted two sixes off the last over to score 27 from 11 deliveries, help the visitors post a competitive total.