Central Districts yesterday achieved an unlikely victory over Otago defending a paltry total of 116 on one of the country's smallest grounds.
At the tiny Pukekura Park, with both sides loaded with batting talent, it was the bowlers who dominated.
Black Caps and Central Districts all-rounder Jacob Oram took five for 14 to help bowl his side to victory in a low-scoring but intriguing twenty/20 match.
With just one wicket in hand the Volts needed 13 runs off the last over and were pinning their hopes on big-hitting all-rounder Ian Butler.
Former Otago player Kieran Noema-Barnett was thrown the ball and conceded two singles before Butler hit a massive six off his third delivery.
But the bowler kept his cool conceding two more singles, leaving Otago needing three to win off the last ball.
A swing and a miss from Butler sealed Otago's fate.
The batsmen scampered through for a bye to reach 115 for nine.
Otago got the wobbles early with openers Brendon McCullum (8) and Hamish Rutherford (5) dismissed cheaply, and in-form batsman Neil Broom run out for 14.
But chasing such a small total, the panic did not set in until Oram arrived at the crease.
He picked up the Otago captain Craig Cumming for 22 in his first over.
A magnificent catch from Mathew Sinclair in the gully accounted for Nathan McCullum.
Darren Broom got a nick through to the keeper.
Yasir Arafat went to another good catch by Sinclair and Neil Wagner completed Oram's five-wicket bag when he was trapped in front for a golden duck.
Earlier, it had all been Otago.
Butler and Arafat had been under siege in the shorter forms of the game.
The pair played a key role in helping Canterbury post a record one-day total of 410 for five late last year, between them conceding 133 runs from just 11 overs.
But, in a welcome relief, they turned the tables on the batsman.
Butler took three for 13 and Arafat three for 16 to help dismiss Central Districts for under 120.
Remarkably, the home side slumped from a strong position of 86 for two to be all out for a 116, losing eight wickets for the addition of just 30 runs.
Arafat got the ball rolling when he ended a promising innings from Ross Taylor.
Ominously, Taylor pulled Neil Wagner through mid wicket for consecutive fours early in his innings and took the long handle to Nathan McCullum, depositing his first delivery over the rope for six and clipping the next two for four.
He finished the over off with a massive six over the eastern stand.
McCullum trudged back to his spot in the field having conceded 23 runs.
It was a pain short-lived, though, with Arafat providing the panacea.
Taylor teed off again but was caught in the deep by a fantastic catch from a tip-toeing Brendon McCullum.
Two deliveries later, Sinclair had to depart in somewhat controversial circumstances.
Rutherford dived forward and scooped the ball up at backward square leg.
There was some debate whether Rutherford had got to the ball on the full, but he claimed the catch and Sinclair had to go.
Butler rubbed salt into the wound, removing Noema-Barnett and Oram to leave the home side reeling at 100 for seven.
