The Canterbury Wizards had to wait until the final session of the match to complete the 158 run win after the Otago Volts tail resisted the enviable in the Plunket Shield match in Queenstown.
The victory was set up yesterday with the Wizards top order batting their side into a strong position.
The bulk of the runs came from Michael Papps who made 122 and Johannes Myburgh with 90 as Otago were left the stiff challenge of reaching 410 runs for a win with a full day to play.
Spinner Todd Astle did the damage for Canterbury today, taking a career best five for 55 as the Volts were bundled out for 276.
The leg spinner was backed up by new ball bowler Hamish Bennett who returned two for 52 and seamer Brandon Hiini chipped in with two for 38.
Captain Craig Cumming did his best to resist the sharp bowling with a hard fought 82 and Sam Wells propped up with middle order with 56 but there was little stickability beyond that.
A few late partnerships frustrated the Wizards with number nine batsman Antony Bullick the last man out for 29.
The victory sees the Canterbury Wizards move into third spot on the points table and gives them a slim chance of winning the Plunket Shield. They will need to win their two remaining matches and rely on the Northern Knights and Central Stags losing theirs.
* Image of Canterbury Wizards bowler, Hamish Bennett.
* Todd Astle has replaced CS Martin for the remainder of this game
Day 3: Volts require 416 runs to win with 10 wickets in hand
The Canterbury Wizards are in a dominant position at the end of day three with the Otago Volts needing 416 runs with just one day to play.
Volts wicketkeeper batsman Derek de Boorder started the day on 31 and took his score through to a defiant 55 but the lower order crumbled easily to be 221 all out, handing the Wizards a 94 run first innings lead.
The Wizards made the most of their strong position with opener Michael Papps hitting a magnificent 122 and Johannes Myburgh making a solid 90.
Papps hit 16 boundaries in his 18th First Class century and was Canterbury’s best batsmen in the first innings with 83.
Kruger van Wyk (28 off 27) and Todd Astle (31 off 17) put on some quick runs with the declaration imminent and it came after 89 overs with the score on 340.
The Otago openers, Craig Cumming (13*) and Leighton Morgan (5*) safely negotiated the five overs before stumps and will resume tomorrow with the scorecard reading 19 without loss.
Day 2: Volts trail by 137 runs with 4 wickets in hand
The Otago Volts polished off the last six wicket for just 97 runs to keep the Canterbury 315 this morning but have their batsmen failed to capitalise.
Volts seamer Antony Bullick mopped up the tail on his way to three for 57 to be the home teams best bowler.
Australian born Dean Brownlie was the only Wizards batsman to kick on this morning, hitting 63.
Otago’s innings this far has been circumspect with the first four wickets falling for just 75 runs.
Greg Todd provided the most resistance with 46 while unbeaten wicketkeeper batsmen Derek de Boorder looks solid on 31 not out.
BLACKCAPS paceman Chris Martin was the standout for Canterbury taking three for 38 with new ball partner Hamish Bennett snaring two for 50.
Day 1: Wizards 218/4 batting first
The Canterbury Wizards have made a useful start on day one of their Plunket Shield match against the Otago Volts at the Queenstown Events Centre.
Openers Rob Nicol and Michael Papps put on 134 for the first wicket before both fell shortly before tea.
Papps was the more aggressive, hitting 83 off 139 deliveries, with Nicol facing the same number of balls for 42.
A patient knock of 25 from Peter Fulton followed before Johannes Myburgh fell of the final ball of the day for 33.
The four wickets to fall were shared between Matthew Harvie, Sam Wells, Antony Bullick and Nick Beard.
Dean Brownlee is the unbeaten batsman on 19 and will look to build on the Wizards score of 218 for four.
* Image of Canterbury Wizards opener, Michael Papps
