Neil Broom enhanced his growing reputation, flaying 58 off 37 balls to help Otago post a 43-run win over Canterbury at QEII Park in Christchurch yesterday.
Arguably, the 26-year-old has never batted better and is the leading run-scorer in both the one-day tournament and the Plunket Shield.
He struck four crisp sixes and punched two fours in a sparkling innings.
Surprisingly, it was Broom's first twenty/20 half century.
He has tended to bat lower in the order but is batting at No 3 in the HRV Cup.
His innings helped Otago reach 159 for seven, which was more than competitive, as Canterbury folded meekly for 116.
Otago coach Mike Hesson was full of praise for Broom, but also talked up the contribution of spin bowling duo Nick Beard and Nathan McCullum.
"Broom played beautifully [yesterday]. It was a good pitch but it was quite tough to get in on and once he got in, he made the most of it," Hesson said.
"That is the key to winning twenty/20 games. Getting a couple of wickets at the top also helped, and Nick Beard and Nathan McCullum kept applying the pressure. For Beard to come in and get two wickets in his first over certainly turned the game."
Canterbury's reply unravelled quickly.
Rob Nicol would count himself unlucky to be given out lbw in the first over, and Michael Papps went to a brilliant catch by Derek de Boorder, who leapt high to his right and gloved what should have been a four.
But Canterbury then hit the self-destruct button, losing three wickets for two runs, and slumping to 45 for five.
Beard and McCullum dominated the middle stages, bowling eight overs for 51 runs and picking up four wickets.
Earlier, some tight bowling kept Brendon McCullum quiet but he then wandered up the wicket and flat-batted Chris Martin down to the long on boundary.
He blasted the next delivery to long on for four.
His best shot, though, was almost impossible to describe.
The shovel, the scoop - take your pick - but he got down on one knee and ramped a full delivery over the keeper for six.
It was certainly audacious and definitely McCullum.
But his next shot in anger ended in the hands of Ryan Burson, when he mistimed a slog to midwicket, off the bowling of Andrew Ellis.
McCullum's opening partner Hamish Rutherford has been struggling to find his touch this summer and laboured again.
He got two nice drives away but he was far from his best in reaching 31 from 36 deliveries.
But the opening stand of 41 provided Broom with the ideal platform and Craig Cumming chipped in with 22.
Burson was the pick of the Canterbury bowlers.
He took three wickets in his last over - albeit two off full tosses - and finished with four for 16 from four overs.
Nicol's offspin proved hard to get away and Ellis was also useful with two for 34.
Otago lies second in the tournament, with two wins from three.
Hesson is pleased with where his side was and said the team was looking forward to its first home match, against Wellington at the University Oval tomorrow.
Otago v Wellington
University Oval, tomorrow
Otago (possible): Brendon McCullum, Hamish Rutherford, Neil Broom, Craig Cumming (c), Nathan McCullum, Ian Butler, Darren Broom, Derek de Boorder, Yasir Arafat, Neil Wagner, Warren McSkimming, Nick Beard, Anthony Bullick.
Wellington (possible): Matthew Bell (c), Paul Hitchcock, Neal Parlane, Cameron Merchant, Owais Shah, James Franklin, Chris Nevin, Luke Woodcock, Dewayne Bowden, Jeetan Patel, Andy McKay, Mark Houghton.
