South Canterbury have earned the right to challenge for the Hawke Cup this season, after beating last season’s challengers, Otago Country, by an innings and 50 runs last week.
The win elevated South Canterbury to 32 points, 12 points ahead of second-place Otago Country — who have the bye this weekend.
Mid Canterbury (16), Southland (12) and North Otago (0) are out of contention.
They all play their final games of the summer this weekend and South Canterbury has the chance to push out even further if they can beat Southland in Invercargill.
Southland has recorded only one outright win, against North Otago, this season, but have looked good in patches, just struggled for consistency.
Sithum Niluminda and Sam Nicholson took seven and five wickets respectively in that game.
Mid Canterbury will host North Otago in Ashburton for their final game.
Mid Canterbury secured first innings wins against Southland and Otago Country this season, but again have battled for consistency.
North Otago have struggled for any points this season, blooding a pack of young talent at the representative level.
Hawke’s Bay are putting the Hawke Cup on the line against Manawatu this weekend.
The winner from that game will defend it against theNorthern Districts winner on the weekend of February 9, and the winner from that game will face the winner of zone three. Nelson and Canterbury Country, who also play this weekend, are in line to win zone three.
South Canterbury will face the winner of that game on March 8 to 10.
