Otago were sent in to bat first at a warm but slightly breezy Sunnyvale Park in Dunedin totalled 110-6 in their first 10 over innings. Chris Gaffaney lead the way with a whirlwind 42, ably assisted by Craig Cumming (16) and Andrew Hore (15). Karl O'Dowda, recently back from a professional engagement in Norfolk, scored 14.

Darren Reekers was the most effective bowler for the red-and-blacks while Cleighten Cornelius (1-20), Shane Bond (1-10) and Warren Wisneski (1-34) assisted well.

Gaffaney hit powerfully off the front foot and showed what an effective Max player he is with some big hits. But it was Reekers with his 2 wickets for 15 runs who probably played the most effective part in the innings.

Canterbury began uncertainly and one stage were two wickets down for two runs. But Reekers and Hamish Barton, with some lusty hitting, set about restoring the situation. They scored 31 and 30 respectively, off some Otago bowling which never really found a line and length.

When Cornelius came to the crease Canterbury were 96-4, and then 96-5 with the departure of Bond for 23, but he quickly consolidated his team's position with a fine 41 - helped by some wayward Otago bowling.

Canterbury totalled 164-8 and gained an invaluable first innings lead of 54. Kerry Walmsley, bowling for his new province, took 2-23, while Neil Rushton (2-36) and Karl O'Dowda (3-13) were especially handy.

In its second innings Otago found themselves 24-4 and looked pretty shaky. But Craig Pryor, son of the former Maori All Black Alby Pryor, hit very powerfully for 48 - including 32 off one over of Cornelius.

The only other innings of any substance was a brisk 19 from Mark Billcliff. For Canterbury Warren Wisneski took 4-30, while Cornelius (2-32) and Danny Bulman (2-19) also captured the wickets.

Needing 83 to win Canterbury started well, and after three overs were 25 without loss.

Wisneski and Brad Doody were batting well and the total went to 53 before Wisneski was out to a fine catch by Billcliff who dived forward at deep mid-on.

The rot then set in with wickets falling again at 53, 55, 55, 57 and 63. With the scoreboard saying 63-6 Otago hopes soared. Canterbury had played unnecessarily freely and had lost five wickets for four runs in the space of 12 balls.

Wicket-keeper Ben Yock gathered a few singles, as did Cornelius, and the equation got to 16 runs off eight balls needed.

But Yock was not content to gather the runs and played three fine boundary shots with two fours and a six to win the game for Canterbury by four wickets with three balls to spare.

The Otago bowling was dominated by O'Dowda who took 3-8 off his two overs, while Neil Rushton and Craig Cumming captured a victim a piece.

In the final analysis, the game could have gone either way but Canterbury's first innings lead was the telling point and with the batting and bowling by both teams looking in the main a little rusty they would have been very grateful for that lead.

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