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Otago Volts vs Canterbury Kings
In the second southern derby of the season, the Volts won the toss and forced the Kings into bat.
Things didn’t start well for the Kings being 2 down within the first 3 overs. In Hazeldine’s first over, Chad Bowes (7) and Rhys Mariu (7) got caught trying to smack the ball. This included Dale Phillips’s 8th catch this Super Smash season.
It took another 7 overs for another scalp with a 60-run partnership between Boyle and McConchie being broken by McConchie being caught on the boundary going for 16.
Two scalps were taken in the next over with Chamberlain being run out for 1 by Georgeson and Rippon being bowled for a golden duck by Matt Bacon, the Kings were in a spot of bother being 81/5 after 12 overs.
Next over Andrew Hazeldine picked up another with Zak Foulkes going for 2 being caught behind by Max Chu bringing Henry Shipley to the crease.
Henry Shipley came in a bashed the ball like no tomorrow, scoring 40 off 17 after taking the Otago bowlers on like they were from a second-grade club side!
Jamieson and Boyle closed out the inning scoring 12 and a new T20 high score of 81 off 51, the Kings finished for 169/7 after their 20 overs.
Jamal Todd continued his poor run of T20 form scoring 0 off 2 being bowled by Blackcap ZAK Foulkes.
Llew Johnson came in at 3 with a shuffle in the Volts batting order, a 40-run partnership with Dale Phillips stabilized the inning. Johnson had to go in the 6th over for 19 off 16 being caught by McConchie off Michael Rae’s bowling.
Dale Phillips and Foxcroft started to take on the Kings bowlers outside the powerplay, scoring a 41-run partnership until Phillips had to go for 48 off 28 deliveries.
Leo Carter didn’t last much longer vs his old side scoring only 10 off 11 leaving the game right in the balance with Otago at 106/4 after 12 overs.
Worry didn’t last long for the visitors with Foxcroft and Chu putting on a 54-run partnership leaving there only 8 runs to win off the last 2 overs. Chu couldn’t finish the magic he had supported for Foxcroft so well departing for 23 off 16.
Luke Georgeson stepped out and on the 4th ball of the over hit a 4 to seal the match for Otago. The Kings remain in last place needing some hope to make the finals now while Otago is 1st flying high under new coach Noffke.
The last time the Volts won both T20 Southern derbys they won the HRV cup. Can they replicate that this season or will it be a bust as we see so often?
Canterbury Magicians vs Otago Sparks
The Sparks got sent into bat by the Magicians and it started well for the home side.
The danger Suzie Bates was gone early on for 9 off 14, with overseas Shika Pandey taking the wicket. It didn’t help that newly minted Whitefern Bella James also had to go for 16 off 16.
Olivia Gain and Catlin Blakley at the crease built a partnership that kept going and going until Gain went for 48 off 42 leaving the Sparks in a prime position with 5 overs left in their inning. The partnership went for 68 runs with the Sparks 99/3 after 15.1 overs.
Another big partnership of 43 with Blakeley and NZ contracted Polly Inglis was made up leaving the Sparks at 142/4 with 5 balls to spare in the inning. The Sparks finished on 150/5 leaving a solid total for Canterbury to chase.
Being 3 down in the powerplay is nearly a death wish in T20 cricket every time. After 4 overs the Magicians were 18/3 with Dean (0), Penna (0), and Sharp (11) all departing early on.
It took until the 12th over for another wicket with Ebrahim going for 10 against her former association being runout. It didn’t take long for Kate Anderson to also depart for 43 off the bowling of Kirstie Gordon.
Nat Cox couldn’t deliver any magic being ran out for only 16 by Whitefern Eden Carson. The Magicians scored 135 falling 16 runs short.
The Sparks are in second looking to continue their HBJ form into the Super Smash while the Magicians sit in 5th needing a breath of hope to make the finals.
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