Canterbury top order smashes Otago

Canterbury's top-three batsmen pulverised Otago to set up a 69-run victory in Dunedin. After getting sent in, Canterbury's openers Neil Broom and Ronnie Hira put on 114 in 11.5 overs, before Hira was dismissed for 42 off 31 balls. He was the only batsman to fall, as Broom went on to make an unbeaten 96 off 59 deliveries and Henry Nicholls scored 61 off 31. Canterbury finished on 211 for 1, the second-highest Twenty20 total for the loss of one wicket or fewer.

Otago were without Jesse Ryder, and their chase foundered after a strong start. Aaron Redmond and Sam Wells put on 56 for the first wicket inside six overs but they then slipped to 93 for 5 in the 13th. Their openers apart, none of the Otago batsmen got past 20 and the lower order collapsed from 121 for 5 to 142 all out in 18 overs. Andrew Ellis and Cole McConchie took three wickets apiece for Canterbury.