Canterbury have emerged triumphant from the battle of the bottom-placed sides in the HRV Cup, successfully defending 185 against Central Districts in Nelson today.
With both sides languishing at the foot of the ladder after managing only one victory in their first five games, a win was almost essential for the cellar-dwellers to remain in the playoff picture.
And it was the visitors - who actually had a shorter travelling distance than the hosts to Saxton Oval - who secured the successful result, but only just.
After 20-year-old Canterbury captain Tom Latham won the toss and opted to bat, the Wizards' top order failed to get away to a flyer. A brace of scalps for both Martin Kain and Adam Milne reduced Canterbury to 73-5 in the 11th over, but that was the last wicket they lost.
Andrew Ellis and Brendon Diamanti instead blunted the bowling attack and set about building a match-winning partnership of 112 for the sixth wicket. Both men managed their maiden half centuries in Twenty20 cricket, with Ellis ending unbeaten on 55 from 34 balls and Diamanti smacking five sixes in a 33-ball 69.
In reply, CD began their search for the runs in style with Mathew Sinclair and Ben Smith getting away to a fast start, before a run out scuppered the Stags' chase.
With the score on 68 from just 6.4 overs Ronnie Hira managed a direct hit to catch Smith short of his ground, sending the opener packing for 39 from 21 balls and shifting the momentum in the match.
Sinclair fell soon after for 38, before Will Young and Kieran Noema-Barnett threatened to pull their side close. But, once the big-hitting Noema-Barnett fell in the 18th over, the total proved too much for Young and Carl Cachopa and CD fell five runs short.
