Cricket: Clouds lined with silver

No-one is suggesting performing a rain dance. Goodness no.

But if the rain forecast for tomorrow's twenty/20 final between Otago and Canterbury at the University Oval arrives, the Volts could be in for a significant windfall.

In fact it could be raining rupees.

While it is yet to be confirmed, New Zealand Cricket expects the winner will be invited to compete in the $5 million Champions League in India.

With no reserve day scheduled for the final if the match is abandoned, Otago, which finished on top of the competition table after the round-robin stage, will be anointed champion.

According to MetService forecaster Nic Bonnette, cricket fans should pack their umbrellas.

A low is expected to bring "periods of rain" to Dunedin over the weekend.

Unfortunately, the periods of rain may not be punctuated with sunny spells.

Otago will go into the match as favourite, with a side stacked with seven past or present internationals.

Black Caps Brendon and Nathan McCullum, Ian Butler and Neil Broom are expected to be available.

And Otago will be looking to redeem itself after its performance in the one-day final earlier this month.

Otago Cricket Association Ross Dykes said nearly 2000 tickets had been sold and he was expecting the venue to be close to its capacity of about 3000.

•Match ticket-holders can catch a free bus to and from the University Oval using the City Loop bus route.

The route, which runs clockwise and anti-clockwise, includes the University of Otago, Dunedin Hospital, South Dunedin megastores, Edgar Centre and Otago Museum.

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