Volts advance to CLT20 main contest

Cricket365
September 18, 2013

The Otago Volts advanced to the Champions League T20 proper thanks to a six wicket win over the Kandurata Maroons on Wednesday, making it two wins in a row in the qualifying stages as Ryan ten Doeschate starred.

The Netherlands batsman made 64 off 32 balls, falling after the majority of the work was done as the Volts reached the 155 required with two overs to spare. It was the MAroons' second defeat, leaving them on the brink of an exit.

The Sri Lanka side batted first after losing the toss, making 154 for nine in their 20 overs. Opener Upul Tharanga was the driving force in the innings, making 76 off 56 balls, including three sixes and six fours.

His was the only score of substance though, as Ian Butler took three wickets in four balls, including Tharanga. Ten Doeschate added to his batting prowess with two wickets, and the next best score for the Maroons was 15, by Dilhara Lokuhettige.

The New Zealand side's chase got off to a shaky start as Hamish Rutherford and Brendan McCullum fell relatively cheaply, but Neil Broom's 25 and Jimmy Neesham's 32 not out complimented Tendo's half ton and they got home via a nifty four.

This means the Volts are the first side added to the eight other teams in the main tournament, and the Maroons have an uphill battle ahead, needing first and foremost for the Wolves to beat the Sunrisers.

Kandurata Maroons: Shehan Jayasuriya, Upul Tharanga, Kumar Sangakkara, Lahiru Thirimanne, Chamara Silva, Thilana Kandamby, Kaushal Lokuarachchi, Dilhara Lokuhettige, Nuwan Kulasekara, Suraj Randiv, Ajantha Mendis

Otago: Hamish Rutherford, Neil Broom, Brendan McCullum, Jimmy Neesham, Ryan ten Doeschate, Nathan McCullum, Derek de Boorder, Ian Butler, Neil Wagner, Nick Beard, James McMillan