The Broom brothers have swept Otago off the canvas and given the home team a fighting chance heading into the fourth and final day of their Plunket Shield cricket match against Northern Districts at Queenstown.
Otago, who started the day at 4 for two and still trailing by 70 runs, slumped further into the mire at 33 for four, but that was the cue for the Broom brothers, Darren and New Zealand one-day international Neil, to engineer a remarkable turnaround.
The pair put on 252 runs for the fifth wicket, which easily bettered the previous best fifth-wicket mark for Otago against Northern Districts of 123 between Russell Hendry and Lance Pearson at Carisbrook in the 1961/62 season, though they fell eight runs short of the Otago record for any wicket against Northern Districts, and 14 short of the best fifth-wicket partnership for Otago against any opposition.
Darren Broom struck 12 fours and a six in getting to 112, his second first-class century, while Neil hit 17 fours in notching his ninth triple-figure score at Plunket Shield level to end the day unbeaten on 134 as Otago recovered to 309 for seven.
At 33 for four they looked as though they could lose inside three days, but Otago now hold an overall lead of 235 runs and defending champions Northern Districts will have a tricky run chase on their hands tomorrow if Otago can bat for another hour.
Graeme Aldridge, who took six wickets in Otago's first innings, was again the chief wicket-taker for Northern Districts today, taking three for 73 from 20 overs.
