Otago has a lead. There ends the good news.
The Volts were 187 for seven at stumps on day three in Palmerston North.
They led Central Districts by 69 runs but were comprehensively outplayed yesterday.
Barring a big partnership or three, the Stags are likely to find themselves chasing a modest target today.
The home team resumed at 225 for five with Dane Cleaver on 23 and Ajaz Patel on seven. The pair put on 67 for the sixth wicket and got the Stags in front.
Cleaver steered an edge to second slip on 48, and Patel’s contribution of 40 was a nuisance as far as Otago was concerned. But Josh Clarkson’s hard-hit 62 off 50 balls really knocked the stuffing out of the visiting side.
A small deficit escalated quickly. The 26-year-old clubbed 11 fours.
Both lefties copped it. Pace bowler Andrew Hazeldine disappeared for four fours and spinner Ben Lockrose suffered the same fate during the onslaught.
By the time Clarkson was out, the Stags (381) had a lead of 113.
That lead would have felt like it had doubled when Hamish Rutherford was run out for seven.
The Volts captain has had a forgettable red-ball season and he must have been cursing his luck when he was called through for a quick single.
The throw from Toby Findlay beat him to the striker’s end by plenty. No single there.
Jacob Cumming called the run, but he redeemed himself with his maiden first-class half century. He has a nice double of 43 and 59 in the game.
Another young gun and fellow left-hander Thorn Parkes continued his promising rookie year with an undefeated 50.
But the loss of Dale Phillips (33), Jake Gibson (1), Max Chu (2) and Ben Lockrose (3) has left Otago hanging on by the loose end of a thread.
Blame Ajaz Patel. The Black Caps left-arm spinner removed Gibson and Chu in one over and had earlier captured the prized wicket of Dean Foxcroft for 25.
At Eden Park Outer Oval Auckland has set Northern Districts a lofty victory target of 416.
Northern knocked off 27 runs late yesterday and will resume this morning with plenty to do.
Canterbury quick Sean Davey built on a remarkable match with the ball in Rangiora.
He picked up another two Wellington first-innings wickets to finish with seven for 25.
Incredibly, Callum McLachlan scored 100 runs in Wellington’s modest tally of 145.
Canterbury made 217 for four declared in its second innings to set the visiting team a chase of 367.
Wellington was 39 for one at stumps with a day to play. Davey grabbed the wicket.
■New Zealand's premier batter Kane Williamson has moved up four slots No2 the ICC men's test batting rankings, RNZ reports.
Williamson is behind Australian Marnus is behind Labuschagne.
Black Caps all-rounder Daryl Mitchell stays at No8.
In the test bowling rankings New Zealand captain Tim Southee is up one place to 11th.
India's Ravi Ashwin is the top-ranked test bowler.
