Brent Arnel claimed two more wickets to seal a five-for before rain halted play early on day two of Northern Knights’ State Championship game against Otago Volts at Invercargill.
The right-armer returned his maiden first-class five-wicket bag to hold the hosts’ innings at 305.
His victims included Derek De Boorder, the wicketkeeper adding just three to his overnight 71, but remaining the innings' top scorer.
Warren McSkimming claimed two wickets early in the champions’ reply to leave them on 77 for two when weather intervened to end the day’s action.
Brad Wilson is unbeaten on 30 and captain James Marshall on two.
The first day saw De Boorder, Craig Cumming and Nathan McCullum and post half-centuries as Otago negotiated a tricky start.
The hosts recovered to 276 for seven after falling to 18 for three at Queen’s Park, having been sent into bat by Marshall.
Volts skipper Cumming was the only one of this team’s top four to post a double figure score, making 62, including a stand of 60 with McCullum.
All-rounder McCullum, the Twenty20 international, then progressed to 57, adding 65 with the wicketkeeper before falling to Mark Orchard.
De Boorder then picked up the baton, making the day’s top score of 71 not out, and sharing an unbroken partnership of 79 with Brad Scott, who ended the day on 39 not out.
