Otago climbed from last place to fourth with a win against defending champion Northern Districts in a Super Smash match in Mount Maunganui on Saturday night.
It was the Volts’ last game and coach Rob Walter felt the five-wicket win was probably their best performance of the campaign. Co-captain Jacob Duffy led an impressive bowling display with two for 18. His efforts helped restrict the competition front-runner to 150 for nine.
Christi Viljoen nabbed consecutive wickets in the 16th over just as the Knights threatened to mount a more competitive score, and Nathan Smith’s two for 24 represented a very solid night’s work.
Experienced opener Hamish Rutherford blasted 49 from 34 deliveries and English professional Ben Cox (32 not out) and Brad Wilson (25 not out) closed out the game with an unbroken 43-run stand.
Wilson will retire at the end of the season, so it was a nice way for him complete his twenty20 career.
"We still could have been more clinical but from an all-round point of view I think it probably was [our best performance]," Walter said.
"I think we have definitely moved forward as a T20 team. "We were competitive in pretty much every single game barring one.
"But for me we probably let ourselves down in different departments along the way but as a team we were committed to the cause.
"We didn’t have one standout performer but a bunch of guys all chipping in to get the job done — similar to our Ford Trophy campaign."
Walter felt the rained-off home games against Auckland and Central Districts stripped his side of some momentum it had established with two early wins, and the four-run loss to Auckland at Eden Park Outer Oval was a game his side should have won.
That said, he was happy his side had moved up the ranking after finishing last during the past two seasons.
He was also able to provide some younger players with opportunities.
"A guy like Nathan Smith was a standout for me. He bowled during all the most pressurised moments throughout the campaign."Jacob Duffy bounced back from his campaign last season and really dominated."
At the other end of the spectrum, someone like Josh Finnie has not seized his chances. He was dropped for the last game, having scored just 43 runs at an average of 7.16.
"We got a taste of [his talent] in the Ford Trophy ... but unfortunately that did not flow into the T20 campaign.
"It is not a lack of skill but just decision-making at critical moments — taking the aggressive option when it was not required — and just those small things which can bite you in T20 cricket.
"Ultimately, what separates good from great players is their ability to make good decisions under pressure in key moments. He has to work through that process and realise talent is one thing but you have to transfer it into performance."
Auckland will host Central Districts in the elimination final at Eden Park on Friday. It warmed up for that game with an eight-wicket win against the same opponent on Saturday.
The Knights qualified top, despite their loss to Otago, and will host the final in Hamilton on Sunday. In the other match, Canterbury beat Wellington by seven wickets.
Otago’s next assignment is a round five Plunket Shield game against Auckland at Eden Park Outer Oval, beginning on February 21.
Seamer Michael Rae has been ruled out for the season with a shoulder complaint but former international spinner Mark Craig is making steady progress from a back complaint.
It is unclear whether he will be available for the match against Auckland but he is working towards his return.
Super Smash
Final round-robin standings
Northern Districts 28
Auckland 28
Central Districts 22
Otago 16
Wellington 14
Canterbury 12
