KEY POINTS:
The blazing bats of Neil Broom and Gareth Hopkins powered Otago to a five-wicket defeat of Central Districts in Palmerston North last night and almost certainly a place in the State Shield one-day cricket playoffs.
Chasing Central's impressive 275 for seven at a flat Fitzherbert Park, Otago timed their run perfectly to reach 279 for five with nine balls remaining. Broom struck 87 off 84 balls and wicketkeeper Hopkins scored an unbeaten 56 off just 39 balls.
