Otago took the honours on the scheduled second day of their ninth round Shell Trophy match with Northern Districts, courtesy of a Craig Pryor five-wicket bag and a quality catching performance behind the stumps.

A typical swashbuckling Simon Doull innings of 41 not out late in the day gave the Northern innings a small boost but four wickets in the first hour set the scene for the rest of the day as first Kerry Walmsley and David Sewell and then Pryor removed the Northern top order.

After a delayed start to give the ground time to recover from the previous day's rain, Matt Horne won the toss and sent Northern in on a pitch that had been freshened up after being used for the One-Day International against Sri Lanka early in the month.

The Northern openers, James Marshall (24) and Michael Parlane (16), may have given Horne some concern about his decision as they took the score into the 30s. But Sewell was giving Marshall sufficient trouble to suggest there was enough in the pitch to provide his pace bowlers with encouragement. So it turned out, the opening partnership of 37 proved to be the largest of the innings.

However, while Walmsley and Sewell picked up the openers in the first hour, it was the medium pace of Pryor that really sent the Northern batting line-up into a spin. With movement away off the pitch, he took two for two in his first two overs, having both Mark Bailey (0) and Grant Bradburn (2) caught in the slip/gully cordon.

A couple of small partnerships between Hamish Marshall (28) and first Matthew Hart (five) and then Joseph Yovich (18) produced some damage control before Doull joined Yovich. It was a typical Doull innings, plenty of carving, sometimes getting the meat of the bat, other times shaving the edge and making life difficult for Otago newcomer Duncan Drew behind the stumps.

Doull lost Yovich at 122, gained support from his captain, Robbie Hart (10) in a 29-run partnership for the eighth wicket but with Hart's departure the end soon came, the innings closing at 155 at the end of the 61st over.

Pryor, with 17 overs, six maidens and a best return of five for 25, was the star of the show for Otago, accuracy and movement off the pitch getting the wickets while his frequent short deliveries to Doull gave the batsman, the slips cordon and the keeper a lively day. Sewell was not far behind, his three for 38 off 15 just reward for a couple of sharp spells.

The other highlight was the eight catches behind the stumps, three of them to Drew, their replacement for the injured Martyn Croy.

Otago were left with nine overs to face in the gathering gloom. Only one was possible before the umpires decided to call a halt. Otago return tomorrow at one without loss and with the imposing - for Northern - figures of Mark Richardson and Matt Horne, coming off a run feast against Wellington, at the crease.

© CricInfo