Stats one way to win a first-class title

Otago came within a whisker this week of winning the New Zealand first-class title for the first time since 1987-88. Cricket writer  AdrianSeconi tells the story of that unusual season.

Stats incredible.

Otago’s last successful first-class campaign actually ended in disappointment.

And had it not been for the careful record-taking of late Otago Daily Times sports editor Brent Edwards, it might have stayed that way.

Spoiler alert: Auckland’s claim on the trophy melted away and Otago eventually got to celebrate four days later when it was confirmed they had a superior differential.

It is a 38-year-old story, but it is worth another outing given how close the Volts came to ending their long drought in the first-class competition this season.

Back in 1987-88, Otago beat Wellington in the final game of the season to climb from fifth place into a share of first place with Auckland, who had a draw with Northern Districts.

It was Auckland who initially claimed the Shell Trophy — the name of the first-class competition has since reverted to the Plunket Shield.

That was on a Friday. But by the weekend, doubts were being raised about whether Auckland’s claim to the prize was solid.

 Edwards laid out his argument in the sports pages. He kept meticulous statistics.

‘‘Records kept by this writer and others indicate Otago has the superior differential,’’ Edwards wrote in the ODT.

And he was right, whereas Auckland had made a terrible blunder.

‘‘Auckland officials apparently had recorded Wellington as losing nine wickets in its first innings in Oamaru when in fact that team was all out and had calculated on that basis.

‘‘Whether Auckland would have gained first innings points against Northern Districts had it batted more positively will never be known.’’

Northern Districts had posted 432 for six declared. Auckland decided not to chase the four first innings points on offer, opting to preserve wickets to stay ahead of Otago’s differential.

Martin Pringle scored 51 not out in five and a-half hours and Bill Fowler added an undefeated 29 in two hours. It was a blockathon.

They got through to 313 for four when the game was declared a draw.

They picked up two competition points for the draw and mistakenly celebrated winning the Shell Trophy.

It is hard to imagine now how such a blunder was made or how it took the national body four days to announce an official winner.

But there were no digital databases in the 1980s, and a good chunk of the New Zealand Cricket Council staff were at Lancaster Park watching the test between New Zealand and England.

Edwards did not hold back in his criticism.

‘‘The present situation is a shambles and it reflects badly on New Zealand cricket administration. There is no reason why the council could not have announced by 10pm on Friday the winner of the competition had it prepared for the contingency.’’

Otago and Canterbury were tied on 99 points at the top of the standings this season.

Try as we might, there is no way the Otago Daily Times can help engineer an Otago victory.

Canterbury’s net runs per wicket of 12.134 was a long way ahead of the 4.911 Otago managed.

adrian.seconi@odt.co.nz