[1] Vaughn Johnson Otago remains on the back foot after three days and will be fighting for survival in its Plunket Shield match against Wellington at the Basin Reserve today.
The Volts lost the initiative when they slumped to 77 for five in their first innings on the second day.
Otago was given the challenge of scoring 442 runs for the outright win when Wellington declared its second innings at 371 for seven yesterday.
Otago made a solid start and was 30 for one wicket at stumps.
Aaron Redmond was trapped by off-spinner Jeetan Patel with the final ball of the day.
Fellow opener Craig Cumming is the rock upon which Otago must build its innings today. He batted solidly for 18 not out and a big innings is required from him if Otago is to save or, possibly, win the game.
Otago coach Vaughn Johnson has not made any decision about chasing an outright win.
"Its a bit early to be thinking about that," he said. "They have asked us to go at over four runs an over. It will be very difficult on the last day."
The plan is to keep wickets intact until the lunch break and then see if a chase is feasible.
"We just have to make sure we fight hard and take back the ascendancy that Wellington has at the moment,"
It was a difficult day in the field for Otago as Wellington added 278 more runs for the loss of five wickets.
The Wellington batsman scored 73 runs in the first session, added another 95 to the tea adjournment and then let fly in the last session, adding 110 more runs.
"We tried to build pressure by bowling maidens and for the first two sessions we did that," the coach said.
The coach praised the accuracy of opening bowler Steven Finn, who took three for 71 off his 26 overs.
"He was his economical self," Johnson said. "He has been a true professional since he has been here and he bowled well again."
Otago had immediate success when Harry Boam was bowled by James McMillan on his overnight score of 37.
Opener Stephen Murdoch kept his wicket intact while former Black Cap Grant Elliott attacked the bowling as 63 runs were added for the third wicket before Murdoch became English test player Finn's second victim.
Otago was in the hunt at this stage but Wellington consolidated its grip on the game with a fifth wicket partnership of 156 between James Franklin (106 not out) and Luke Woodcock (66).
Franklin, who scored 50 in the first innings, mastered the Otago attack and hit 11 boundaries and one six in his innings that lasted 222 minutes.
In Hamilton, Northern Districts is heading for an outright win over Canterbury after a dominant day three with bat and ball yesterday.
The competition leader began the day with a lead of 252 and proceeded to pile on the runs, with the Marshall twins, in particular, cashing in. James added 15 to his overnight score but fell just two runs short of three figures after being trapped in front by Matt Henry, while brother Hamish went on to notch 134 for his 19th first class century.
The twins' third-wicket partnership of 163 put the host firmly in control, and it went on to post an imposing 436 before declaring with a lead of 454.
Canterbury lost George Worker for a duck in the first over and will resume today on 116 for five, still trailing Northern by 339 runs.
In Auckland, opener Jeet Raval continued to plunder the runs, advancing to 164 before being bowled by Central Districts spinner Tarun Nethula.
Nethula was the pick of the bowlers, taking four for 85, but he could not get rid of Colin de Grandhomme (120 not out off 100 balls) who smashed his career best score in guiding Auckland past Central's first innings total of 367 and to a lead of 80.
Central continued the trend of the match in its second innings and advanced breezily to 207 for one at stumps and resumes today with an overall lead of 120, with the big question surrounding when Central captain Jamie How will declare.
ScoreboardWELLINGTON
First innings 312
OTAGO
First innings 242
WELLINGTON
Second innings (overnight 93-1)
M Papps lbw b Finn ... 4
S Murdoch c McCullum b Finn ... 74
H Boam b McMillan ... 37
G Elliott lbw b Finn ... 42
J Franklin not out ... 106
L Woodcock c McCullum b Butler ... 66
J Austin-Smellie c Redmond b Butler ... 14
J Patel c Finn b Wagner ... 10
Extras (2b, 15lb, 1wd) ... 18
Total (for 7 wkts dec, 111.5 overs) ... 371
Fall: 1/10 (Papps), 2/93 (Boam), 3/156 (Murdoch), 4/184 (Elliott), 5/340 (Woodcock), 6/359 (Austin-Smellie), 7/371 (Patel).
Bowing: S Finn 26 overs, 7 maidens, 71 runs, 3 wickets, N Wagner 24.5-3-106-1 (1w), J McMillan 21-6-49-1, S Wells 5-1-22-0, I Butler 20-2-68-2, N McCullum 14-3-36-0, C Cumming 1-0-2-0.
OTAGO
Second innings
C Cumming not out ... 18
A Redmond c Austin-Smellie b Patel ... 8
Extras (4b) ... .4
Total (for 1 wkt, 11.5 overs) ... 30
Fall: 1/30 (Redmond).
Bowing: A McKay 5-0-13-0, S Kuggeleijn 2-0-7-0, J Patel 3.5-1-4-1, L Woodcock 1-0-2-0.
Otago requires 412 runs to win with 9 wickets in hand.
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