Cricket: Seven-year itch ends

It was quite bizarre. Not only did Otago achieve their first Shell Cup win over Canterbury in 14 matches at Alexandra's Molyneux Park last night, they did so with almost consummate ease.

There were five wickets and 8.2 overs remaining when Craig Pryor lofted Aaron Redmond straight for four - his third boundary in four balls - to break a losing sequence stretching almost seven years.

When Otago slumped to 104 for five in reply to Canterbury's 224 for eight, it seemed the biggest threat to Gary Stead's men were the rain clouds massing in the west.

But they provided only a passing shower and it was on a lovely, mellow evening that Pryor and Chris Gaffaney steered Otago to victory with their unbroken sixth-wicket stand of 121 off 116 balls.

The long-suffering among the crowd, which peaked at 1200, waited for the familiar clatter of wickets, the "snatch-defeat-from-the-jaws-of-victory-panic-stations," which has ushered Otago to umpteen losses in recent years.

But nothing happened. Gaffaney and Pryor continued to bat with assurance and common sense and, as Otago closed on their target, the air of resignation was in the Canterbury camp.

It had been trumped at almost every turn by an Otago side that gained their third consecutive win after they won the toss and bowled.

The match was reduced to 47 overs by morning rain.

- NZPA