Rain may have threatened to limit the Otago-Northern Districts to a first innings contest but that didn't prevent an exciting end to the third day's play today at Carisbrook.

Northern Districts did not add to their overnight total of 232/9 and it was this target that Otago set out to attempt to pass and gain the two points available for a first innings lead.

Otago started at a quick clip with Andrew Hore forcing the pace initially while Mark Richardson was content to gather runs but wisely keep his wicket intact. Hore played some smart cover drives and was eventually out when Otago was 84 after giving two hard hit chances in his 54 scored from 73 balls.

Richardson was joined by Craig Cumming and together they proved a real thorn in Northern Districts side as they both added to their respective scores with a few "dried up" periods. Richardson, after two disappointments for him in the game against Canterbury, obviously wanted a score and concentrated hard but was just not timing or placing the ball as well as he can and many great shots went straight to fieldsmen.

Finally when he was 76 he skied one to substitute fieldsman Graeme Aldridge from the bowling of Grant Bradburn and was out.

Cumming, now on 67, was joined by Chris Gaffaney, the former Cromwellian, who has established a reputation for himself as one who likes to really get on with it. He tried just that but only managed eight before being dismissed, caught Parlane bowled Bradburn.

Otago was obviously determined to get the first innings lead but reached a slow and frustrating period when runs were hard to come by but finally Cumming hit Bradburn for two fours and took Otago past the Northern Districts total and his own score to 87. Otago finished the day on 236/3.

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