Canterbury have emerged triumphant from the battle of the bottom-placed sides in the HRV Cup, successfully defending 185 against Central Districts in Nelson today.
With both sides languishing at the foot of the ladder after managing only one victory in their first five games, a win was almost essential for the cellar-dwellers to remain in the playoff picture.
And it was the visitors - who actually had a shorter travelling distance than the hosts to Saxton Oval - who secured the successful result, but only just.
After 20-year-old Canterbury captain Tom Latham won the toss and opted to bat, the Wizards' top order failed to get away to a flyer. A brace of scalps for both Martin Kain and Adam Milne reduced Canterbury to 73-5 in the 11th over, but that was the last wicket they lost.
Andrew Ellis and Brendon Diamanti instead blunted the bowling attack and set about building a match-winning partnership of 112 for the sixth wicket. Both men managed their maiden half centuries in Twenty20 cricket, with Ellis ending unbeaten on 55 from 34 balls and Diamanti smacking five sixes in a 33-ball 69.
