The rain arrived just in time for the Otago Volts yesterday.
Auckland had got away to a tremendous start in the Super Smash match at the University of Otago Oval.
Martin Guptill was batting like he does on television, and Glenn Phillips was hitting the ball every bit as well.
The pair had put on an unbroken stand of 107 for the second wicket following the early loss of Colin Munro.
But with the visitors extremely well-placed at 117 after 11 overs, the rain returned and that was that.
The teams split the four points on offer, which worked out rather well for Otago. The Volts (12 points) moved from fourth to third courtesy of the two points, while Auckland (eight points) remain in fifth place. Guptill really was in fine fettle. He took just a little bit of time to get the pace of the pitch.
Once he was set, then boom — the ball sped rapidly from his bat on its way over long on.
Three sixes went that way, and there is a ball still up on the roof somewhere. He blasted 62 from 37.
Phillips was just as threatening. He pummelled 43 from 23. A score of 200 plus looked easily within reach.
There was one moment of joy for the Volts; Jacob Duffy hooped in a yorker and bowled Munro for nine.
He was the only Otago bowler able to pin the batsmen down.
At Hagley Oval, Canterbury slumped to 41 for six, but recovered to reach a face-saving 112 for eight against a strong Central Districts line-up.
Blair Tickner starred with three for 15, while Seth Rance took two for 19.
Stags captain Tom Bruce was in the mood for an early finish. He clouted 45 not out from 31 balls to help seal a six-wicket win with more than three overs to spare.
In the other men’s Super Smash game, Northern Districts beat Wellington by 12 runs at the Basin Reserve on Saturday.
