Internet Desk: Two hours, zero runs, a club cricketer in New Zealand pulled off something quite remarkable over the weekend.
Otago Country skipper Fraser Wilson scored an unbeaten zero off 119 balls as he looked to save his side from defeat in a Hawke Zone Cup elimination match against Southland in Alexandra.
It proved to be an effort in vain.
Set 345 to win in its second innings, Otago was dismissed for 141.
Having come in at No. 8 with Otago in trouble at 6-99, Wilson dug in for 126 minutes only for Southland to secure victory with three balls to spare.
The captain put on a 23-over stand with No. 9 Tom Myles (28 off 68) that brought the side 30 runs and frustrated the Southland attack.
The fall of Myles brought No. 10 Sam Blakely to the crease, with just under 14 overs to survive to avoid defeat.
He stood tall for 12 overs before being bowled by Kurt Thompson, who went on to remove Mark Knox with the fourth last ball of the game.
It was an eventful match for Wilson, who scored 20 off 35 in Otago’s first innings when his side was bowled out for 140, conceding a 74-run lead.
He followed that up with figures of 4-52 in Southland’s second innings and ended Amarpreet Singh’s 87-ball 110.
Singh, who scored 77 in the first innings, powered Southland to a second innings total of 8-270.