Former Auckland and Black Caps all-rounder turned Marlborough captain Brendan Diamanti has ripped through Otago Country's top order and all but cemented his side's place as the latest holder of the Hawke Cup after helping bowl the home side out for just 83.
Country captain Brendan Domigan elected to bat at Molyneux Park in Alexandra yesterday and almost immediately paid for that decision, going for a duck after just eight balls.
It was Diamanti who took the wicket and he went on to finish with figures of five for 8. His stint of 16 overs included 12 maidens.
He was not the only Marlborough bowler among the wickets on the first day of the three-day match. Central Districts squad member Ben Wheeler and former New Zealand one-day specialist Carl Bulfin also collected a couple for not many.
The Otago Country captain said that Diamanti was the major difference on the day.
"He bowled really well. The boys hadn't seen much of him before so it took us a bit by surprise.
"If we could have got through that first hour and a-half, things would have been different."
At one stage before the luncheon interval, Otago Country was 52 for eight and then shortly after, all out for 83. It was only thanks to a mini fightback from Queenstowners Fraser Wilson, who top scored with 33, and tail-ender Sean Windle who faced 34 balls for his two, that Country managed that total.
By tea, Marlborough was 27 for one with Jackson Pearce and Andrew McCaa at the crease. Pearce went on to finish the day 87 not out and guide his team to a lead of 88 runs with seven wickets in hand.
Domigan picked up two of the three Marlborough wickets while Windle had the other in a more than frustrating day for the Southerners.
Domigan was still confident however, saying that his boys were in high spirits and that if his side could take some wickets early today, then an outright win and retention of the Cup was still possible.
The match resumes at 10.30am.
