Cricket: Otago leave it to final over

Otago survived a late panic attack to beat Wellington by one wicket with four balls remaining in a Shell Cup match at Carisbrook yesterday.

Otago have not made a habit of winning matches in recent years, let alone tight finishes, and there were long faces and frayed nerves around the ground as they belly-flopped spectacularly in pursuit of Wellington's 244 for five.

From the almost invincible position of 232 for five, Otago plunged to 238 for nine as Wellington medium-pacer Matthew Walker chimed in with a timely hat-trick.

This brought together Simon Forde, who is getting married in Alexandra next Saturday, and Warren McSkimming, who hails from the nearby farming community of Oturehua.

There were seven runs needed, 23 balls left, and they seemed oblivious to the chewed fingernails and sweaty palms around the ground.

Two runs were needed from the final over, bowled by speedster Carl Bulfin, and Forde whipped the second ball over mid-wicket to the terrace boundary.

- NZPA