Otago had to settle for two competition points when its State Shield match with Auckland was rained off without a ball being bowled at the University Oval on Saturday.
It's not Bjorn Borg versus John McEnroe or Alain Prost versus Ayrton Senna, but the Otago-Auckland clash has turned into one of the great rivalries on the New Zealand cricket domestic scene.
He has been involved in the coaching of some of New Zealand's greatest cricketers.
The Otago Sparks have a slim chance of making the State League final if they can win their remaining two matches against the Central Hinds in Palmerston North this weekend and other results go their way.
Otago skipper Craig Cumming stroked a majestic century to lead his side to a convincing win over Canterbury at the University Oval yesterday.
The New Zealand bobsleigh campaign is gathering momentum with an announcement due next week on the final make-up of the crew.
Big-hitting English all-rounder Dimitri Mascarenhas demonstrated his ability to clear the boundary when he whacked five sixes in one over to help Otago reach 257.
Martin Guptill's 100 on debut was like a shot in the arm for New Zealand but let's wait for the stardust to settle before we have the 22-year-old knighted.
Albion left-arm spinner Nick Beard and Pelichet Bay all-rounder James Fuller have been named in the New Zealand under-19 team.
For the second time in a week Otago was beaten in the final over of a State Shield game when Northern Districts' tail-ender Bruce Martin sliced the winning runs down to backward point yesterday.
Eastern Beaches started the new year well with an 88-run win over the Central Knights in a declaration match at Tonga Park on Saturday.
An injury cloud hangs over Dimitri Mascarenhas ahead of Otago's one-dayer against Northern Districts in Whangarei tomorrow.
What! No Victor Trumper? And how was the Demon - Fred Spofforth - left out?
Otago's nail-biting last-ball loss to Auckland on Monday has bruised rather than dented its chances of defending its one-day title.
Otago cricket chief executive Ross Dykes has expressed interest in hosting a potential third test between New Zealand and India.
Otago has received a huge boost ahead of its one-day match against Auckland today with Black Caps duo Brendon McCullum and Neil Broom coming into the squad.
So often it has come down to a battle of the skippers on this tour.
New Zealand coach Andy Moles has noticed a not-so-subtle change in his side's confidence levels since the five-game one-day series began.
Otago cricket fans were short-changed again when the annual New Year's Eve one-dayer in Queenstown was abandoned just before 3pm.
Otago opener Craig Cumming's shift to No 4 in the batting order in the one-dayers is a permanent move this season, coach Mike Hesson said yesterday.
