Southland make strong start

Southland have made a strong start to their two-day Hawke Cup cricket clash against North Otago in Oamaru and look on track to pick up first innings points.

Southland headed into the game, missing their best two bowlers - Craig Smith and Jacob Duffy - as well as Jonathan Hodson and Jason Domigan, but it did not seem to affect them too much on the opening day yesterday.

After winning the toss, Southland opted to bowl first and knocked North Otago over for 172, with the experienced Ronnie Kotkamp and promising youngster Hamish Cooke the pick of the Southland bowlers with three wickets apiece. Mark Beer, Rhuebyn Prattley and debutant and former Indian under-19 spinner Khanin Saikia also chimed in with a wicket each.

One-time Otago Volt Duncan Drew was the only batsman to kick on for North Otago after getting a start and he went on to score 60, before Cooke shattered his stumps.

Southland made a safe start in their first innings with Simon Wadworth and Ryan Duffy putting on a 49-run opening stand. At stumps last night, Southland were looking in a healthy position at 126 for two with Southland Boys' High student Hamish O'Brien, who is on debut, not out on 18 and skipper Shaun Fitzgibbon also at the crease on 42 not out.

Day one scores:

North Otago 172 all out.
Duncan Drew 60, Ben Cant 32, Jordan Horrell 22. Hamish Cooke 3-23, Ronnie Kotkamp 3-30.

Southland 126-2
Shaun Fitzgibbon 42 not out, Ryan Duffy 28, Simon Wadworth 23.

- © Fairfax NZ News

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