Otago take HRV title with 10th straight win

Otago won the HRV Cup in Dunedin on Sunday, beating Wellington by four wickets. Otago chased down Wellington's target of 144 with 9 balls to spare. This is Otago's tenth consecutive Twenty20 win and they will represent New Zealand at the Champions League qualifiers later this year.

Wellington, who chose to bat, were reeling at 20 for 3, as the Otago bowlers, led by pacer James Fuller, struck at regular intervals. Wellington lost opener Michael Pollard, Michael Papps and Cameron Borgas for ducks in two consecutive overs, with Fuller dismissing Pollard and Papps in the second.

Jesse Ryder put up some resistance but his wicket, in the sixth over, triggered another small collapse, before Harry Boam and allrounder Luke Woodcock added 72 runs for the seventh wicket, taking their side to 126. While Boam holed out to long on off Duffy's bowling, Woodcock remained unbeaten on 40 as Wellington eventually finished at a respectable 143 for 9.

Otago's chase had some early hiccups, with left-arm spinner Mark Houghton dismissing opener Hamish Rutherford and Aaron Redmond in the second over. Neil Broom and Derek de Boorder then dominated the Wellington attack, adding 71 runs for the third wicket. After Boorder's wicket, Broom put together a 32-run partnership with Ryan ten Deoschate for the fourth wicket. Broom's dismissal in the 18th over, with Otago needing 14 runs off as many balls, brought Wellington right back into the game. However, Ian Butler took Otago home comfortably by hitting two fours and a six in a space of five balls.