Otago sealed its place as top qualifier for the twenty20 playoffs with a convincing 56-run win against Northern Districts in Mt Manganui yesterday.
The Volts will play Auckland in a preliminary final in New Plymouth on Friday.
The winner of that match will gain direct entry to Sunday's final at Yarrow Stadium. The loser will play Canterbury in a sudden-death match on Saturday for the right to play in the final.
Canterbury clawed its way into the playoff series with a 17-run win against Central Districts at Hagley Oval yesterday, while Auckland slipped up against bottom-of-the-table Wellington at Eden Park Outer Oval but had already qualified.
No such problems for the Volts. Otago set a high benchmark earlier in the campaign but had not been as convincing in the second half of the round robin.
But any doubts were laid to rest with an emphatic win against Northern.
On a slow surface, Otago posted 178 for four. Northern attacked the total with gusto, needing to get past the target in good time to lift its net run rate.
That contributed to one or two hasty shots and Northern's eventual demise for 122.
But King said that did not in anyway diminish what was an impressive effort from his side.
''The wicket was a little bit slow, so to put 178 on the board was a good score,'' King said.
''We got a little bit untidy for three or four overs but when [Jimmy] Neesham came out to bat, he hit well from ball one and showed his class. That is the sort of player he is.''
Neesham swatted four sixes in an undefeated innings of 49 from just 26 deliveries. He combined with Michael Bracewell in a damaging stand for the fourth wicket. The pair added 92 from 49 balls.
Bracewell got out in peculiar circumstances, though. The powerful left-hander scored 54 from 39 deliveries but was given out obstruction after the last ball of Otago's innings.
Initially, he was intent on scampering back for a second run which would have seen Neesham reach 50. But he hesitated and, by the time he decided to return, was hit by the throw and judged to have obstructed the fielder.
It mattered not a jot. Otago's total proved out of reach for the home side.
Nick Kelly was the only batsman to cause Otago's attack some palpitations. He hit two sixes and three fours in an entertaining knock of 42 from 32 balls.
Part-time left-arm spinner Anaru Kitchen claimed three wickets but pace bowler Warren Barnes was arguably the pick of the bowlers. He bowled Black Caps all-rounder Corey Anderson and in doing so removed a big threat.
His return of one for 23 represented another tidy performance.
''It is nice to finish the round robin with a good performance.
''It does not mean we are going to play well in the finals. But everything leading up to it has been going really well and that just gives us that extra bit of confidence.''
