Cumming and Pawson yesterday shared a 90-run, third-wicket stand before Cumming was retired on reaching his half century. Pawson carried Canterbury through to victory also reaching an unbeaten half century, Canterbury winning the match with 3.2 overs unused.

That left honours shared between the teams in the early-season encounters after Otago won the first match on Saturday quite comfortably.

Cumming has returned home after playing the off-season in the Netherlands determined to improve his one-day game. He played for the VRA club in Amsterdam which won the premier title. Cumming made a substantial contribution, averaging almost 50 from a near-900 run return.

``I thought it might be easy to come back here after playing over there. But you have to change from the matting wickets to play indoors here first and then coming outside.

``The important thing today was to get some time at the crease and the runs would come.''

Canterbury was seeking only a modest 137 to win after the bowlers had done a splendid job in restricting Otago.

Newcomer Stephen Cunis continued his good early impression with four cheap wickets while fellow pace bowlers Shane Bond, Wade Cornelius, and Darren Walker also contributed handsomely. Left-arm spinner Carl Anderson complemented their work with an accurate spell of 10 overs for just 18 runs and three wickets.

Canterbury started laboriously against Otago's accurate opening attack of Glenn Jonas and Rhiane Smith who both had frugal opening spells yielding just 10 and 13 runs respectively from eight overs each. But gradually Cumming and Pawson prospered although Cumming was tested by off-spinner Nathan Morland.

In the Saturday game Canterbury's bowling was less impressive and enabled Otago, through its openers Chris Gaffaney and Mark Richardson, to mount a 67-run opening stand in pursuit of the home side's 167 for six. Richardson reached 55 from 119 balls with four fours.

Canterbury's tally was bolstered by an unbeaten 51-run stand between Mark Lane and Mark Hastings for the seventh wicket.

Short scoreboards:

Saturday

Canterbury XI 164-6 (R Frew 29 ret, G Stead 30, M Lane 27no, M Hastings 29no; A Hore 2-25) lost to Otago XI 166-7 (M Richardson 55, C Gaffaney 24, G Green 22; J Ward 2-33).

Sunday

Otago XI 136 (C Gaffaney 23, A Hore 24; S Cunis 4-12, C Anderson 3-18, D Walker 2-28) lost to Canterbury XI 137-5 (C Cumming 51 ret, S Pawson 52no).