Otago nicely through warmup
OTAGO will take some confidence into its opening Plunket Shield match having beaten Canterbury by six wickets in a warmup match at Molyneux Park this week.
Canterbury resumed yesterday on 321 for seven and reached 349 for nine, setting Otago a modest victory target of 119.
Batsman Ken McClure had retired hurt for 115 on day three.
Otago stumbled, losing three quick wickets before Neil Broom helped steady the chase with 24. Allrounder Jimmy Neesham (49 not out) and Derek de Boorder (39 not out) rattled on some quick runs to secure an early finish.
While the game was just a warmup, Volts coach Rob Walter believes winning is a habit and the result bodes well for his side’s season opener against Canterbury in Christchurch beginning on Labour Day.
‘‘Winning games becomes a habit and you have to learn how to do it,’’ Walter said.
That was something Otago struggled to do last season. It finished bottom in all three formats last summer but the teams has a more formidable look this season, particularly to its pace attack.
One of the most pleasing aspects from the warmup against Canterbury was the sight of Warren Barnes running in with a red ball in his hand.
The speedster has had two injuryinterrupted seasons with Otago and is yet to make his firstclass debut. But he got through 26 overs in the game and has emerged unscathed.
‘‘Warren Barnes is obviously a success just for the mere fact he got through his first fourday game,’’ Walter said.
‘‘He is a guy who has had issues with injuries in the past but got through the game no problem and actually bowled really well. And he sustained his pace and that is a huge positive.’’
New signing Matt Bacon picked up four wickets in Canterbury’s’s second innings, while Neil Wagner was his usual aggressive self with the ball and also came through with the bat, scoring an unbeaten 100 in Otago’s first innings.
Neesham’s batting was another positive. He scored 80 in the first innings at a good clip and batted superbly in the second as well.
Spinner Mark Craig showed some form with the bat and also had his moments with the ball. He missed the last domestic season, mostly through a back complaint which required surgery. His return means Otago has two quality slow bowling options to call on, something it did not always have last season.