Southland all-rounder Jeff Wilson provided some encouraging signs on Saturday that he should be ready to join the Otago side in their next State Championship match, against Canterbury starting at Carisbrook on Friday.

Wilson suffered a side strain two weeks ago and was ruled out of Otago's opening match, but he returned to his Appleby club side with a vengeance. They recorded a five-wicket win over Invercargill-Old Boys with Wilson taking five for 48 from his 10 overs while he scored 34 when batting with two fours and two sixes during his side's first innings, before backing up with 48 not out with another two sixes and two fours, in their second innings.

And just to show there were no ill effects from his injury he gave a fine display in the field, taking four catches during the opposition's first innings, then took another in their second innings.

There was encouragement also for Shayne O'Connor in the Vincent competition in Central Otago.

His Alexandra team rolled Queenstown for 19 on Saturday. However, O'Connor wasn't one of the main beneficiaries. He took one wicket for eight runs, but Brendon Domigan with four for seven and Jason Orr three for two were the wicket-takers. Eleven extras, made up of seven wides and four leg byes made a significant contribution to the Queenstown total.

Meanwhile, in Christchurch club cricket Chris Cairns and Craig McMillan had powerful effects for their respective clubs.

Cairns scored 116 not out for the Lancaster Park-Woolston second grade team against East Shirley on Saturday, and then, in a first grade one-day game, against High School Old Boys yesterday he scored 92 not out in his side's win. He took two for five from seven overs in his Saturday game and one for 16 in seven overs yesterday.

McMillan scored 106 off 77 balls for his East Christchurch-Shirley club on Saturday against Marist He hit three sixes and 17 fours in his innings.

In Auckland, Lou Vincent scored 91 in a two-day match for his Grafton United side while in Wellington, Paul Hitchcock took four for 26 as Eastern Suburbs beat Hutt Districts while Mark Gillespie played a fine hand in his North City club's win over Taita. He took four for 11 and then his 54 not out to confirm a victory.

The Hutt Districts second team had a day to forget in the Hazlett Trophy when dismissed for 24 by University.

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