Canterbury's brittle-looking batting did as well as might have been expected in making 198/6 on the second day of their Shell Trophy match with high-flying Otago at Christchurch's Village Green.

Marcel McKenzie will be Canterbury's main batting hope tomorrow. He is nearing his first-class best of 43, having crawled to an important 39 not out off 168 balls in the evening sun.

Otago coach Dennis Aberhart, who has a special insight into Canterbury cricket as their last coach but one, told CricInfo, "today we bowled pretty good channels on what's a pretty good wicket. It was good disciplined bowling. We kept the pressure on throughout the day."

"It was a disappointing end to the Cup series," he added, (Otago were last of six), and all we've got to play for now is the Trophy. We want to continue developing as a team over this game and the next four to be in contention to win this competition."

Aberhart, who is in his first year coaching down south continued, "the competition's pretty close. Nobody's out of it - I think it's wide open, just as the Cup was when people came from the bottom."

Conversely, current Canterbury coach Garry MacDonald has admitted Canterbury are playing for pride and experience in his last five games in charge.

It was Test off spinner Wiseman (2-53), unwanted in the One-Day Internationals, who looked like he might have a headline day, but the flat, slightly slow pitch was not much help during his flighted, wind assisted 27 overs.

Aaron Redmond's thump over Wiseman's head typified the inexperience of the Canterbury team, nine of whom are aged between 21 and 24. He tried again next ball and was caught and bowled.

Warren McSkimming (3-38) had the day's best bowling figures, and indeed he is Otago's joint top wicket taker this season, with 14 in the Trophy. Craig Pryor (1-19) also made his total 14, ending Gareth Hopkins and McKenzie's 72 run sixth wicket stand with a quicker, grunty yorker. Hopkins went for 39, and now averages 65 for the season in the Trophy.

Earlier Jarrod Englefield had impressed with 46, including a straight six off Wiseman, before being bowled by McSkimming.

Redmond also looked classy, but bottom of the table Canterbury seem likely to miss out on first innings points once more in their winless season.

In some ways Canterbury's worries match New Zealand's, who play Sri Lanka at the 'cake tin' - Wellington's WestpacTrust Stadium - in the second ODI tomorrow.

Injuries, lack of form and crowd disinterest are not being outweighed by some talented players, coaches and administrators.

Aberhart was second XI coach at Canterbury before taking over from now national coach David Trist. Garry MacDonald followed the same path and Aberhart commented "whether they'll still go that way with Mike Sharpe I don't know. It's a fairly well sort after position."

However, the fact that Canterbury won the Provincial 'A' team competition this year and that their coach, former Canterbury paceman and current selector Sharpe has recently qualified as a first-class coach, and has told CricInfo he has a big ambition to coach at a higher level, seems to point in that direction again.

The wise and experienced Aberhart concluded, "the top team (Wellington) only has 18 points, and there are 30 still available. Anything can happen yet."

In cricket, as well as in all aspects of life, his aphorism is too true.

© CricInfo