Brendon McCullum made scoring look easy for Otago at Carisbrook against Northern Districts in the State Championship match today, but it proved a false dawn.

While he scored 50 off 60 balls, in the attacking fashion he has already become renowned for, he wasn't able to maintain the scoring rate and was out with the score on 63 and the only other batsman on the team able to match his final total was Craig Cumming who scored 56, but off a more sedate 144 balls.

Otago's final total of 215 was a disappointing return, although similar to other returns for teams all around the country on the first official day of the season.

Chris Gaffaney scored 22, but the Otago effort overall was not as convincing as it would have wanted to produce.

The Northern Districts attack took a pasting from McCullum initially, but with his departure came back well with Bruce Martin finding he was able to get good reward with his left-arm spin to take three for 24 from 10.3 overs.

Joseph Yovich and Ian Butler both received some early tap but Yovich, especially, responded well with three for 55.

James Marshall ensured ND had a good start to its bid to build a handsome first innings advantage by getting to 45 not out from 76 balls by stumps on what was a drawn out day with play going well after the scheduled finish time of 6pm.

Mark Bailey was 12 not out as ND reached 69/1 by stumps. Otago's solitary success with the ball was achieved by Evan Marshall who secured his first wicket after being out of first-class play for five years.

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