Canterbury needs just six more runs to notch a healthy win against Otago when the match resumes at the University of Otago Oval this morning.
The visitors are nine for one and just one good hit away from victory.
It begs the question why both teams could not use the available sunshine last night to get a result.
An extra 30 minutes had already been claimed when a result looked likely. Another few minutes would probably have been enough.
But barring something bizarre happening, Otago will record its fourth consecutive first-class loss this season.
The Volts actually battled manfully for most of the day but a late collapse proved their undoing.
They were 195 for three and had eclipsed most of Canterbury’s lead when the visitors took the new ball. They lost their last seven wickets for 51 runs and left Canterbury chasing a paltry total of 15 with three overs left on day three.
Coach Rob Walter said it was getting to the point where changes would need to be considered.
"It was just another batting collapse which has become a little bit too frequent with this team," he lamented.
"We are certainly entering the phase where we need to consider some changes. It is just about creating opportunity and understanding how many opportunities are enough before you start looking elsewhere."
Canterbury seized control of the game on Saturday through a Cameron Fletcher century.
He took advantage of some average bowling to post his third first-class hundred.
The visitors had resumed on 98 for four in reply to Otago’s disappointing first innings total of 206.
Canterbury’s innings hung in the balance but Fletcher and Leo Carter (78) combined in a 146-run stand.
Fletcher was eventually undone for 108. Christi Viljoen took a nice catch to his left.
Henry Shipley (76) and Kyle Jamieson (67) added half centuries to help Canterbury reach 438 — a first innings lead of 232.
Otago dominated the morning session yesterday, taking the final two Canterbury wickets quickly and getting through to lunch for 68 without loss.
Hamish Rutherford and Cam Hawkins looked at ease. The pair put on 113 but a mental error proved costly.
Rutherford turned for third run and appeared on track to make his ground easily. But there was no hustle. He never got above a canter and was carrying his bat in both arms.
If only he had made an attempt to ground his bat he would have been safe.
Instead, he trudged off for 63. The mistake probably cost him a hundred with the way was batting. He certainly did not look like getting out any other way.Hawkins brought up his second first-class half century with a boundary behind square.
But his four-hour vigil came to an end on 76, when he hit a return catch to spinner to Cole McConchie.
The arrival of the new ball brought immediate success.
Both Shawn Hicks (21) and Josh Finnie were drawn into a drive and nicked out.
Anaru Kitchen and Nathan Smith were bowled by deliveries which jagged back significantly, and Bacon got one of those at No11 as well.
In the other games, Auckland beat Northern Districts by nine wickets at Eden Park Outer Oval. The home side was set a modest target of 125 and cruised to victory with more than a day to spare.
Central Districts is unbeaten in first-class cricket in two years but has a big task ahead to maintain that record. It needs a further 87 runs to make Wellington bat again at Sexton Oval.
It is 184 for three in its second innings.
• Otago has posted its first win at the national women’s under-21 tournament in Auckland.
It beat Northern Districts by two wickets. Kate Heffernan, Emma Black and Marina Lamplough all picked up three wickets to help dismiss Northern for 106, while Georgia Heffernan led the ch0ase with 43 not out.
On Saturday, the team suffered a five-wicket loss to Wellington.
In the men’s under-19 in Lincoln, Otago was well-beaten by Wellington on Saturday. It posted a modest total of 155 and lost by five wickets.
