Cricket: Otago have Wellington in their sights

Rain and a stubborn opening partnership yesterday thwarted Otago's bid to capitalise on an excellent batting performance in their match against Wellington at Carisbrook.

Wellington were 75 without loss in reply to Otago's first innings of 465 when play was abandoned at 6pm because of rain and bad light. In all, 33 overs, almost a third of the scheduled day, were lost.

Wellington's first target is to avoid the follow-on mark of 316, after which they may declare and hope Otago set a run-chase on the last day.

Otago had as much difficulty prising out the Wellington batsmen yesterday as the Wellington bowlers did when Otago batted. Openers Matthew Bell and Grant Donaldson took no risks and grafted 136 minutes and 37 overs. Bell was unbeaten on 38, made from 115 balls, while Donaldson scored 34 off 108 balls.

Neither was in much bother against an Otago attack that was without the injured Jeff Wilson, Warren McSkimming and James McMillan.

Having resumed on 397 for seven, Otago were dismissed yesterday for 465.

It was an innings studded with milestones after Wellington won the toss and elected to bowl on a pitch with little grass or seam movement.

Otago were struggling at 33 for two and again at 121 for four but the last 58 overs yielded 276 for three wickets. Chris Gaffaney led the way with a magnificent 160.

The innings was built around three partnerships - 84 in 118 minutes for the second wicket between Gaffaney and Rob Lawson, 134 in 167 balls for the fifth wicket between Gaffaney and Gareth Hopkins, and 114 in 136 balls for the sixth wicket between Gaffaney and Nathan McCullum.

The fifth-wicket partnership between Gaffaney and Hopkins was a record for Otago against Wellington.

- NZPA