Scorchers vs Auckland, Group A at Centurion, , Oct 23 2012 - Ball by Ball Commentary

That's all we have from this match. I need to rush. We have a dead rubber to prepare for

Quotes from presentation

"It was tough to bat on," says Gareth Hopkins. "The Perth boys batted quite well, but still 140 was gettable. Perth showed us how to bat on a slow wicket. We have picked guys in the middle who have done it for us back home, I was confident in them. Bitterly disappointing."

"It's been a frustrating campaign," says Marcus North. "Close in a couple of games, then a washout. So nice to win. Looked a beautiful wicket. But played slower than we first thought. We adjusted well. Those guys [the spinners] were important to our campaign back home, and have been go-to guys."

"Basically second-guess how they are trying to play me [on bowling at the top of the innings," says MoM Michael Beer. "The ball held up a little, and that worked really well for me."

So that's quite a flat chase by Auckland Aces. Beer wasn't flat, though. With this, Auckland are out of the tournament. And Daredevils and Titans go through. They might say this is just as well that their fate has been decided already because there is a nasty little cloud headed Supersport Park's way

"Very disappointed that no one has come up with an "Eenie, Meenie, Minie bowed Munro" pun with so many underemployed punning geniuses around today..." Mark Kidger, we needed your vintage for that

"You add the conspiracy theory, and they surely could buy more than a condo. Maybe even a Sea-facing bunglow in Mumbai??" Rakesh, to buy a sea-facing bungalow, selling merely your team is not enough. You might need to sell your nation. And still, you will have to put up with the stench

"For many internatinal retirees, IPL is the means to buy a condo in Florida!" Surely, James, with that kind of money they could do better?

Last over coming up

"Batsmen who play "cute" shot's like THAT, in situations like THESE, should be dropped for 3 months and offered a rehab package." And people like you and me, Rakesh, need to get back to Test cricket

"Hmmm, it's a T20 involving a New Zealand side..this has got tie written all over it..." Not again, Nigel

"There's a brewery in Dunedin, New Zealand, called MacDuff's. The guy originally called it Duff's, since, you know, that's his NAME. But Fox sued him for copywrite infringement and won." Raff, harsh but perhaps fair too?

In comes Mills

"I think you're doing all right if you bowl your four overs for less than your age... and Hoggy does it every time!!" That's a great theory, John. Explains why so many retirees treat T20 as a condo in Florida