Otago have virtually locked up a home final in the HRV Cup after beating second-placed Wellington by 12 runs in their Twenty20 cricket match at the Basin Reserve today.
The win gives the Volts an eight-point lead with two matches to come, meaning only an unlikely series of results will see them knocked off top spot.
Otago have been the form side all season, running off seven straight wins after beating defeated by Northern Districts in their opening game.
ND are the only side with a chance to prevent Dunedin's University Oval from hosting the showpiece next Sunday, but they will need to win both of their final two games and hope Otago loses theirs.
That appears an outside chance at best, with Otago continuing their fine run of form today. Their victory was set up by an impressive knock by captain Derek de Boorder, with the wicketkeeper coming in at No 3 to blast 67 from 44 balls.
Despite not hitting a single six, de Boorder recorded his first half century in T20s and led his side to a first innings total of 170-6.
In reply, James Fuller got Otago off to an ideal start when he bowled out the dangerous Jesse Ryder for just six in the third over. Bangaldeshi opener Tamim Iqbal threatened to get away, but Nick Baird snatched his wicket for 41 to reduce the home side to 65-3 after 12 overs.
Wellington were always behind in the asking rate and two wickets from Jimmy Neesham ensured no one in the middle order was able to provide the aggressive knock the Firebirds needed.
Grant Elliott's 36 from 18 balls offered some hope but 23 runs from the final over proved too tough a task and Wellington ended on 158-6.
