Cricket: Otago smashed as batsmen fail

The bowlers did the job but the Volts batsmen had a nightmare as Auckland smashed Otago at Eden Park last night.

With a win last night, Otago could have skipped clear in the twenty20 domestic competition but, chasing a not-too-challenging target of 168, Otago had a dreadful start and lost three wickets inside the first couple of overs.

From there it was not just an uphill battle, it was more or less vertical, and Otago came up well short, eventually losing by 74 runs at the start of the 17th over.

Otago was in the game at the break between innings but once Hamish Rutherford went first ball it never looked likely.

The first boundary from Otago did not come until the fifth over, and when Michael Bracewell went at the end of the sixth over, it was a lost cause.

Aaron Redmond hit a few lusty blows and, when he was there, the visiting side still had a glimmer of hope.

But when he was dismissed in the 11th over with the Volts still more than 100 short of the target it was goodnight to Otago.

With Otago's classy all-rounders on Black Caps duty or injured, the tail did not wag and the Otago cause was done and dusted. Only two players made it into double figures.

Credit had to be given to the Auckland bowlers who found a good length and did well in delivering the slower ball at just the right time.

There are now four teams tied on 16 points at the top of the HRV Cup.

Wellington, Northern Districts and the two teams from last night's game are equal at the top of the table and it may come down to run rate to determine the three sides to go to the finals in Hamilton in two weeks. Otago chipped away at the end with the bat in attempt to improve its run rate as the last rites were read.

Auckland, after being put in by Otago, got off to a quick start and had 50 up in the sixth over, although both openers were dismissed.

Otago wicketkeeper and captain Derek de Boorder picked up a couple of sharp chances to put the brakes on Auckland as it threatened to get away.

Auckland skipper Gareth Hopkins looked to be in aggressive mood but, when he holed out off Ryan ten Doeschate in the seventh over, the Auckland innings was in the balance.

It then listed more when de Boorder showed some great work behind the stumps to catch Craig Cachopa short of his ground off a Nick Beard wide.

Colin de Grandhomme then came and went and Auckland was in real trouble with half its side out and only 67 runs on the board.

It got through to three figures without any further loss but then Donovan Grobbelaar holed out just when the Auckland innings showed some signs of life.

Jeet Raval did his best to give Auckland respectability and scored a half-century as Auckland managed to get to 167.

But if anything, the total flattered Auckland as it picked up more than a dozen runs with streaky inside edges which could have so easily gone into the wickets.

James McMillan and ten Doeschate both picked up two wickets and bowled well, giving the Auckland batsmen nothing to hit, while Beard was his usual accurate self.

Otago travels to New Plymouth today and will take on Central Districts at Pukekura Park late tomorrow afternoon.

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