The North Islanders had just won their first Plunket Shield title in 13 years and the moment called for a good dousing. The old war horse Neil Wagner took five for 53 in his final first-class game in New Zealand to help the visitors to a 134-run win at the University Oval.
Otago had started the day needing a further 287 runs to snatch an improbable win. They resumed on 120 for three and were dismissed for 272.
The innings started to unravel quickly courtesy of Wagner. He was fired up and removed Dean Foxcroft with one of his trademark bouncers.
Wagner’s team-mate Josh Brown employed the bumper to account for Jamal Todd and Brad Kneebone.
Thorn Parkes provided some temporary resistance. He posted his 13th first-class half century to complete a very decent season.
Parkes scored 541 runs in the campaign at an average of 38.64 and is now off to play division 1 club rugby for the Dunedin Sharks.
They’d better not break him.
Wagner eventually claimed his wicket. Parkes fished at a delivery and the keeper Ben Pomare made a nice catch low to his left.
Andrew Hazeldine retired hurt two balls later. He got struck by a bouncer.
Jarrod McKay was next. Wagner angled in a delivery from wide on and crease and hit the top of middle.
And Ben Lockrose, who came in as a concussion replacement for Hazeldine, completed Wagner’s five-wicket bag. He tried to leave, got a deflection, swivelled around quickly to try and boot it away from his stumps but lost the race. He was bowled Wagner for a duck.
Matt Bacon clobbered a career-high undefeated 47 from 43 balls in a 53-run stand with Toby Hart for the last wicket.
But Henry Cooper brought the game to an end and the celebrations to a start when he trapped Hart lbw for eight.
It was a deflating end for Otago. They only managed one win in another underwhelming first-class season.
They are closing in on 40 years since they last won the first-class competition in the summer of 1987-88.
Wellington rolled Canterbury for 97 in their second innings to seal a 294-run win at the Basin Reserve.
The Firebirds needed Otago to hold on for a draw to have a chance to win the Plunket Shield but the defending champions had to settle for second place.
Plunket Shield
Final standings for 2024-25
Northern Districts 109
Wellington 100
Canterbury 86
Central Districts 79
Otago 54
Auckland 51
