The Volts were stymied in a bid for their first back-to-back victories in the Plunket Shield in five years when they were held to a draw by an obdurate Auckland side.
After Otago declared their second innings at 176 for six, offering their opposition 69 overs to survive or chase 293 for victory, the Aucklanders batted out for the draw with four wickets in hand.
There were tense moments late in the day as the home side had a couple of sniffs of victory, and surrounded middle-order batters with fielders in a bid to force a mistake, but Otago’s hopes were spoiled by some gutsy batters.
Chief among them was Auckland captain Cam Fletcher, who dug in after his slide slipped to 20 for two then 82 for five.
Fletcher blocked and grafted, but also put away the bad balls — he hit nine fours — as he faced 117 balls for his 62 not out. It was his 19th first-class half-century but first against Otago.
He got strong support at the other end from Harjot Johal (13 off 67 balls) and Adi Ashok (18 off 81) as the Aucklanders shut up shop.
Dean Foxcroft was the only home bowler to nab two wickets in the final innings.
Otago had earlier resumed their second innings at 42 for one and set about scoring some quick runs with a view to a teasing declaration.
After Dale Phillips (28) and Jamal Todd (32) got out, Otago captain Dean Foxcroft blazed 37 off 29 balls, Thorn Parkes smacked 34 off 28, and Llew Johnson hit an unbeaten 25 off 17.
The batters had done their job, and while the bowlers could not quite follow suit, the Volts should be relatively pleased with their efforts over a game they largely controlled.
The Volts might be out of contention for the title but they can still play a major role in the end of the season.
Their final game is back at the University Oval, starting on Saturday, against a Northern Districts side eager to win their first Plunket Shield in 12 years.
Northern (89 points) are in a three-way battle for glory with Wellington (82) and Canterbury (80). The latter two face off against each other,
After their 20-run win over defending champions Wellington at the Basin Reserve yesterday, Northern are the only undefeated team in the competition and the only one with four wins, which is the first tiebreaker should teams finish tied on points.
There was a lengthy weather delay in the capital yesterday before the Firebirds resumed batting, needing 39 runs for victory with three wickets in hand.
Two quick wickets from Northern paceman Scott Kuggeleijn set the tone, before he completed his 14th first-class five-wicket bag, and his first against his former team.
Logan van Beek was left stranded on 46 not out as Wellington were dismissed for 245.
OTAGO
First innings 306/9dec
AUCKLAND
First innings 190
OTAGO
Second innings
J Cumming c O’Donnell b Gibson 14
D Phillips c Ashok b Gibson 28
J Todd lbw b Ashok 32
D Foxcroft c Ashok b McKenzie 37
T Parkes c Robinson b McKenzie 34
L Johnson not out 25
B Kneebone lbw b Delport 2
T O’Connor not out 2
Extras (2lb) 2
Total (for 6wkts dec, 35 overs) 176
Fall: 1-19, 2-64, 3-92, 4-134, 5-169, 6-172.
Bowling: D Ferns 9-1-30-0, M Gibson 11-1-55-2, H Johal 2-1-4-0, A Ashok 6-0-47-1, L Delport 3-1-7-1, J McKenzie 4-0-31-2.
AUCKLAND
Second innings
W O'Donnell lbw b Bacon 1
L Stackpole c Johnson b Hazeldine 5
S Dixit c Kneebone b O'Connor 47
N Robinson c & b Foxcroft 20
J McKenzie lbw b Foxcroft 6
C Fletcher not out 62
H Johal c & b Phillips 13
A Ashok not out 18
Extras (6lb, 6w,1nb) 13
Total (for 6wkts, 68 overs) 185
Fall: 1-1, 2-20, 3-55, 4-80, 5-82, 6-125.
Bowling: A Hazeldine 14-3-60-1 (3w), M Bacon 6-0-25-1 (1w), D Foxcroft 21-5-32-2, J McKay 9-2-29-0 (2w, 1nb), T O'Connor 6-3-7-1, D Phillips 6-2-13-1, T Parkes 4-1-10-0, J Todd 2-1-3-0.
Result: Match drawn.
