Cricket: Southern men find it's a hard road

Otago v Canterbury:

Otago captain Craig Cumming said his players were "hurting" after their heavy loss to Canterbury at Carisbrook yesterday. Otago were beaten by an innings and four runs inside three days, and Cumming offered no excuses.

"We're definitely hurting," he said. "It's basically about fronting up because a display like that is not acceptable.

"While it was a very good Canterbury side, our own attitude contributed to the failure.

"I think the guys will still be hurting for a further day and then it will be time to get ourselves set to play Northern Districts and perform the way we should."

Otago were dismissed for 206 off 73 overs in their first innings and 183 from 70.3 overs in the second. Such paltry totals are not competitive at first-class level.

Opener Mohammad Wasim fought a lone battle as Otago attempted to reach 188 to make their southern opponents bat again.

He batted 218 minutes and 182 balls for his 62, which included seven fours, and was particularly productive through the leg-side before he tried to pull a ball from Chris Cairns and lobbed a catch to Shane Bond at mid-on.

He was the seventh out at 169, and the end was not prolonged as Cairns and Bond wrapped up the tail.

The highlight of Canterbury's innings of 393 was the unbeaten 76 by Cairns in his first match back from injury. He also picked up two wickets for 10 runs from five overs in Otago's second effort.

Cumming said the key to Otago's loss was the lack of big innings, excluding Wasim, and partnerships.

"Guys got starts and didn't kick on. If someone makes a ton and two others half-centuries, that's the basis of a big score."

One of the positives was the comeback of left-arm swing bowler Shayne O'Connor, who captured two for 68 off 20 overs.



Cumming himself was noticeably limping after a long day on Saturday, but said that was to be expected as he continued to work back to fitness after a patella tendon operation.

"I've had no cricket for seven months, then seven days in nine days. We've got nine days off now, so I'll be as good as gold," he said.

Otago's next match, against Northern Districts at Carisbrook, starts on December 10.

Canterbury captain Gary Stead described the comprehensive win as "a great start to the season. We played positively throughout and we're rapt."

"The pitch was becoming harder to bat and bowl on because of the lack of bounce, but some of our batsmen, plus Wasim, showed that if they got in, they could bat comfortably."

- NZPA