The thrd day of the Plunket Shield's penultimate round has ended with Otago reaching 486 for 3 at in Whangarei replying to the leaders Northern Districts first innings of 465 for 9 declared.
Craig Cuming made 160 for Otago and Darren Broom got 119 and Nathan McCullum's on 88.
Central Districts are 119 for 3 still needing 247 to win in Auckland where the bottom placed hosts reached 635 for six with Gareth Hopkins making 201.
And in Rangiora Canterbury need 261 to beat Wellington with seven wickets in hand.
