Cricket: Southerners on top

Otago can feel satisfied with their performance on day one of their match against Central Districts at Queens Park in Invercargill yesterday.

After winning the toss and putting the northerners in, Otago dismissed the visitors for 208 and were 32 for one at stumps.

At lunch, Central were 101 for three, the batsmen out including dangerous Craig Spearman, whose stumps were sent flying by Jeff Wilson after he had reached 50.

A useful 68-run stand for the fifth wicket between Glen Sulzberger, with 42, and Jesse Ryder, 37, threatened to put the visitors back in a solid position.

But Central's wickets tumbled in quick time after tea, the last four going in the space of 24 runs.

Former test left-armer Shayne O'Connor bagged three for 23 in 16.4 overs while Wilson finished with two for 49.

Otago lost last-game century maker and captain Craig Cumming in Andrew Schwas' first over for 14 but Mohammed Wasim and Chris Gaffaney got through to stumps.

- NZPA