Otago might want to consider reversing its batting order.
The Volts slumped to 66 for five before recovering marginally to reach 140 for six at stumps on day three of their Plunket Shield match at Eden Park Outer Oval.
Auckland leads by 181 runs and the home side kept a firm grip on the reins following another impressive bowling stint from Lockie Ferguson. But rookie left-armer Ben Lister also got in on the action, picking up three wickets.
Ferguson has nine wickets in the game and fell back on some of the same tricks he used during Otago’s first innings.
He trapped Rob Nicol with another well-directed yorker. The batsman was entitled to do a bit better second time around, though.
Before that, Ferguson caught the gloves of Brad Wilson and the ball ballooned to Mark Chapman at short square leg.
Hamish Rutherford went next. He was enticed into a drive by Lister and was bowled. Then Jimmy Neesham guided a delivery to first slip.
Neil Broom’s departure for 29 left the Volts five down for not many — the fourth time in as many innings the top order has crumbled.
Otago was five for 76 and five for 101 against Wellington last week, and five for 54 against Auckland in its first innings.
The opposition has put Otago under pressure with some terrific bowling in this game, particularly in the first innings. But there are some very experienced campaigners in Otago’s batting line-up who will not be looking forward to the debrief.
The day actually started well for the visiting side. Otago needed quick wickets and was hoping to limit the chase to around 350.
The Volts picked up five wickets for 81 runs in the morning session to get themselves back into the game.
Neesham finished with three for 46 and Warren Barnes completed a promising debut with two for 30 from 16 overs.
Robbie O’Donnell (84) and Sean Solia (56) provided the bulk of Auckland’s second-innings total of 277.
In the other games, Canterbury needs another 161 runs to avoid an innings defeat against Central Districts at Hagley Oval. It slumped to 52 for four but has recovered to reach 143 for four with a day to play. The match between Wellington and Northern Districts at Seddon Park is evenly poised with Northern needing 178 runs to win with seven wickets in hand.
The home team is 112 for three.
