Otago's 18-run win over Canterbury in the State Shield match at Oamaru today became the battle of the bonus point.

Otago scored 156/8 in their 37 overs and Canterbury, if unable to match that target, had to try and stop Otago picking up a bonus point, to achieve that they needed to reach 125, and they managed that but not before a fright or two.

In their chase Canterbury lost their two openers Michael Papps and Stephen Cunis for seven, and then slumped to 46/6. Gary Stead, who else, and Paul Wiseman effected a recovery.

Otago had to restrict the Canterbury scoring but some indifferent bowling from the usually miserly Craig Cumming and Craig Pryor produced a flurry of runs and Canterbury went to 80/6 from 24 overs - a partnership of 45 runs.

In the 28th over Stead was bowled neck and crop by Cumming for 23. Canterbury were 93/7.

Wiseman followed in the 29th trying to hit Nathan McCullum over square leg and was caught by Andrew Hore on the boundary for 22. Canterbury were 95/8.

Consideration of the bonus point did add a different dimension to the game which would otherwise have been dead.

The 30th over saw Warren Wisneski and Carl Anderson take six off Cumming to go to 101 but in the 31st over Hore again took a brilliant running catch to dismiss Wisneski on the square leg boundary for six. Canterbury were 103/9.

The target for Canterbury was now another 55 runs but with only six overs left and one wicket in hand. The cry of 'Otaagoo' went around the ground. It looked very much as though they would defeat their old enemy twice in the one season.

With 33 overs gone and Canterbury 115/9, Kerry Walmsley resumed the attack. He had to contend with a wet ball after a shower which lasted for two overs made the ball slippery and the fielders understandably make a couple of minor errors. He conceded five from the over. Canterbury 120/9 from 34 completed overs.

The last Canterbury pair at the wicket were looking good,they were playing straight and collecting singles and Otago's chances of gaining a bonus point were receding. Pryor conceded only three in the 35th over and the Canterbury total was 123/9 with two overs to go.

Canterbury denied Otago the bonus point in the 36th over as Walmsley conceded two runs and then with nothing to lose the batsmen hit out in the last over to reduce the deficit to 18 runs. Canterbury had denied Otago the bonus point, but the satisfaction for Otago was huge as they claimed their second victory of the summer over their old rivals.

Carl Anderson finished on 18 not out and Ryan Burson 14 not out.

Bowling for Otago, Walmsley took two for 17 from eights, David Sewell three for 22 from five and McCullum two for eight from four.

Earlier, Otago had built its position on a solid innings of 41 from 71 balls by Cumming while a lower injection was given by Lee Germon with 21 and Martyn Croy 26. Cunis did best for Canterbury by taking two for 18 from eight overs.

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