Cricket: Volts and Kings join Aces in the finals

The Canterbury Kings. Photo / Paul Taylor

The Otago Volts and Canterbury Kings have joined the Auckland Aces in qualifying for the Georgie Pie Super Smash T20 domestic cricket finals after an action-packed last day of round-robin play yesterday.

Going into the day, four teams had a chance of joining Auckland at the finals weekend at New Plymouth's Yarrow Stadium, and Otago and Canterbury booked their places with wins.

The Volts were all but secure of a playoff spot to begin with, but sealed top spot on the ladder with a comprehensive 56-run win over the Northern Knights.

A crucial fourth wicket stand of 92 from 46 balls between Michael Bracewell (54) and Jimmy Neesham (49 not out) saw the Volts make 178/4, as Otago found the Knights' pace bowling to their liking.

The Volts batsmen took 112 runs from the eight overs of seam, compared to just 61 from 12 overs of spin, with five runs coming via byes and leg byes.

Needing to win in quick time to boost their net run rate and qualify for the finals, the Knights never looked like getting close, being dismissed for 122.

Otago's win left the remaining finals spot up for grabs for the winner of the clash between the Canterbury Kings and Central Stags, and the Cantabrians put in a quality all-round effort to pick up a 17-run win.

The Kings' one-game imports Shane Watson and Michael Hussey had mixed contributions - Watson making a five-ball duck but Hussey contributing a valuable 43. His knock was aided by an excellent 48 from Peter Fulton before skipper Ronnie Hira bashed 37 from 20 balls to bring the hosts to 166/6.

In response, the Stags' big-name import was the only player to mass a decent score, with Sri Lankan maestro Mahela Jayawardene making a 44-ball 53.

Wickets fell at regular intervals for the visitors, and despite Andy Ellis bowling five wides in a crunch-time over, Jayawardene's dismissal in the 18th over saw CD fall short of both their target and a finals spot.

In the least important game of the day, the Wellington Firebirds swept aside the Aces, beating them by seven wickets.

The Aces were resting several key players and it showed in their batting performance, being routed for 109.

In response, the bottom-placed Firebirds reached the total with 29 balls to spare, Tom Blundell anchoring the innings with a steady unbeaten 45.

The result sees the Aces finish second on the ladder, resulting in a Friday night clash against Otago with the winner earning direct entry to Sunday's final.

The loser of Friday's contest will then get a second chance when they play Canterbury on Saturday night for the remaining spot in the final.