The best way to save a game is to win it.

Canterbury's position at the bottom of the table meant they had not much to lose by remaining positive. But blameless young batsman Marcel McKenzie completed 40 balls for four runs at a crucial time, after being scoreless for 45 before being given out in the first innings.

This first innings go-slow, along with the second innings crawl did not save Canterbury from defeat, and probably stopped them having a chance of winning.

The away team, Otago, said they were going to "bowl our guts out," in their quest to go top of the Trophy table. Match-winner Craig Pryor, who removed the last four Canterbury batsmen to force the win, told CricInfo, "It would be great to stay there. It's a very even competition and it will be interesting cricket over the next 16 days."

They were always dictating the tone of the match, right from day one. The Southerners certainly fought hard to win. Canterbury also battled, but it was never sure if they had enough confidence in their ability to go for victory.

A third consecutive draw on the good batting surface at QEII looked likely, until Otago's Pryor ended Aaron Redmond and Carl Anderson's unlikely sprint for victory. He broke their 72 run, 117 ball stand, then had Stephen Cunis lbw first ball.

Otago entered the final hour needing two wickets in 15 overs.

Pryor bowled Carl Anderson for 52 and had Wade Cornelius lbw next ball, to give him 5-70. There were just 22 balls left.

He was delighted with his career best performance, but was more pleased "from a team perspective really. To get 20 wickets on a deck like that was a pretty good team effort."

He told CricInfo, "it was a little bit touch and go, but if you believe enough you never know what might happen. It was a great day for it and great to be a part of."

Otago coach Denis Aberhart laughingly said, "We were always confident." Pryor and co also never seriously never doubted their ability to force the win.

With regard to his own performance, Pryor belives he "has a little bit more belief" in his bowling these days, having played for Auckland between 1997 and 1999. His move to Otago has been a successful one, with 19 wickets in this, his first season. He did not play provincial cricket last summer. All his first-class wickets have come to the 27 year old this year.

"I've been sorting a few things out technically," he said. "I don't think I'm quite there yet, there's a long way to go. One performance doesn't make a summer, but I was happy just to be on the field."

"I was elevated to the third seamer's role, so I had a job to do. The expectations are quite high within this team. To have those expectations put on your shoulders always lifts you a little bit."

Wickets in consecutive balls on two occasions gave Canterbury four ducks to add to the three in the first innings. Both Cunis and Cornelius bagged pairs.

Warren McSkimming, whose first innings 6-39 was the third best domestic bowling figures this season, after Daryl Tuffey's 7-12, which won Northern Districts their sixth round game against Wellington, and Warren Wisneski's 7-151. Tuffey is a new selection in the ODI team for Tuesday, predictably taking hapless Andrew Penn's place.

He had dismissed five of the six Canterbury batsmen out yesterday without scoring in the day. McKenzie failed to add to his overnight 39, and five men made ducks.

The earlier record 178-run third wicket stand for Canterbury against Otago between Robbie Frew (111) and Michael Papps (68) revitalised the home side, after a poor third day. But it was not enough.

Of the 20 centuries in first-class cricket in New Zealand this season, seven have been at the Village Green.

Andrew Hore's 100 and his 77 in the second innings, along with McSkimming's bowling, ultimately almost gave Otago just enough time to force a hard won victory against an improving set of Canterbury youngsters.

But it was Pryor who was the match-winner in the end.

© CricInfo