Cricket: Batting spoils Otago's chances

Otago Volts strike bowler Neil Wagner appeals in unison with wicketkeeper Derek de Boorder for an...
Otago Volts strike bowler Neil Wagner appeals in unison with wicketkeeper Derek de Boorder for an lbw decision during a twenty/20 match at University Oval in Dunedin yesterday. Central Districts opening batsman Peter Ingram survived, but was later run out for 0. Photo by Jane Dawber.
A poor batting display has left Otago's prospects of a repeat twenty/20 title in a perilous position.

The Volts could muster only a dismal 121 for nine after they were put in by Central Districts on a slow University Oval pitch yesterday.

Jamie How anchored Central's stuttering chase with a sparkling half-century to help guide his side to a four-wicket win which and leapfrog Otago on the competition table.

With Auckland recording a convincing six-wicket win over Canterbury, and Northern Districts beating Wellington, Otago has slipped from second place to fourth and is in danger of missing out on a place in the final on Sunday.

The defending champion must beat Auckland in Auckland tomorrow and lift its net run-rate.

If Otago (20 points) beats Auckland (24) and Northern Districts (20) beats Central Districts (24) in Hamilton, all four sides will finish the round-robin with 24 points and would have to be separated by net run-rate.

Northern (0.605) has the highest net run-rate from Auckland (0.552), Otago (0.310) and Central (0.295).

Canterbury and Wellington are out of contention and will battle for the wooden spoon in Rangiora.

"We've got ourselves in a situation where we have to rely on other events," Otago captain Craig Cumming said after the match.

"All we can do is go up to Auckland and give ourselves the best chance of winning. If we win well, you never know what might happen.

"Obviously, we'd rather our fate was in our own hands, and if we'd won one of the last two games that would be the case."

Otago got into a winning position against Canterbury at the University Oval on Friday night but let the match slip with some poor bowling.

Yesterday it was the batsmen who let the side down.

Dashing left hander Hamish Rutherford perished in the opening over, when veteran medium pace Michael Mason lured him into a lofted shot.

Brendon McCullum played a cracking slash over backward point for six and was just starting to look threatening when he found a way to get out on 28.

Stepping to off, he tried to slog sweep Mason to midwicket but got nothing but glove.

It ballooned through to the keeper Bevan Griggs, who took a nice catch diving forward.

Neil Broom top-scored for Otago, with 38 off 33, but had little in the way of support.

Cumming holed out at long on and Nathan McCullum repeated the shot moments later.

An ounce more patience, or better yet, some timing, and Otago might have scrambled a further 20 or 30 runs.

Seth Rance took two for 14 from four overs and former Otago all-rounder Kieran Noema-Barnett took two for 15 from three as the Otago middle and lower order capitulated meekly.

"I don't think we summed up the wicket quickly enough and went a bit hard," Cumming said.

"It wasn't a 185-run wicket like the last one. In hindsight, 150 probably would have been a good score."

Central Districts did its best to make the modest run chase interesting, losing six wickets.

Peter Ingram was run out in the third over, Mathew Sinclair dragged a delivery back on to his stumps and Tim Weston charged left arm spinner Nick Beard and was bowled for three.

How held the innings together with a classy knock.

He dispatched the poor deliveries and looked comfortable at the crease.

But having reached 50 off 35 deliveries he ran past the next from Beard and was bowled.

Otago sensed an opportunity but a couple of swift blows from Jacob Oram and Ross Taylor saw the target reached without too much more fuss.

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