Otago put up one mighty fight to save its Plunket Shield match in Wellington.
It held on for a draw against Wellington in its day-night match at Westpac Stadium last night, after finding itself in a dire situation early in the day.
Having lost its seventh wicket with more than two sessions to play, Otago needed a further 69 runs to avoid an innings defeat. While draws have been the story of this team's season, on this occasion a huge effort from Sam Wells and Nathan Smith helped Otago escape.
Arriving at the crease together at 135 for seven, the pair batted nearly 53 overs and put on 143 runs together. It seemed they were going to do enough to steer Otago to safety themselves, erasing the difference and steadily building a lead. But just as things were looking up, two quick wickets gave Wellington a sniff.
First the left-handed Wells played at a wide ball from Hamish Bennett, edging it to slip. He was caught for 118, his highest score in first class cricket.
Bennett struck again the same over, claiming the crucial wicket of Smith for 59. The 18-year-old edged a straighter one through to wicket keeper Luke Ronchi, who took a low catch. It was an encouraging display from the highly touted youngster.
However, it left Otago in a tough position. A crucial last-wicket partnership between Jacob Duffy and Michael Rae proved key.
They batted for nearly 10 overs and added 25 runs, Rae 20 of them, leaving Wellington 101 runs to get off nine overs.
At that point the match was declared a draw. It gave Otago an unlikely escape after having been forced to follow-on when it scored just 98 in its first innings.
That situation did not improve in the second innings. Otago lost four wickets inside 22 overs and started yesterday at 59 for four, trailing by 145 runs.
When Anaru Kitchen fell lbw to Brent Arnel for eight with the score at 68 for five early in the day, the odds became even longer. But they would not go away. Or more specifically Wells would not.
He joined Neil Broom at the crease and the pair put on 40, before Broom was dismissed lbw by Luke Woodcock for 28.
Arnel claimed his second lbw of the day when he hit Christi Viljoen on the pads with a ball that came back in. He departed for 14, leaving Otago 135 for seven with more than two sessions left to survive.
The draw was Otago's fifth of the season, leaving it with just one win next to its name.
Both the Auckland v Canterbury and Northern Districts v Central Districts games ended in draws, as well.
-By Jeff Cheshire
