Auckland thump Otago to go to top

Auckland leapfrogged to the top of the HRV Cup table with a resounding 74-run win over defending champions Otago. Set a target of 168, Otago folded for 93 to finish with their second loss of the tournament.

Otago's chase got off to a disastrous start as Auckland's opening bowlers, Matthew Quinn and Michael Bates, struck in the first two overs. Quinn dismissed Hamish Rutherford and Neil Broom in the first over, while Bates got rid of the aggressive Ryan ten Doeschate to leave Otago at 2 for 3 in the second over.

Aaron Redmond and wicketkeeper-captain Derek de Boorder were the only two batsmen to get into double figures, and their fifth-wicket partnership of 33 tried to resuscitate the chase, but Auckland struck to take the last five Otago wickets for just 15 runs.

Earlier, Jeet Raval's unbeaten fifty and useful knocks from Gareth Hopkins, Donovan Grobbelaar and Jonathan Sole pushed Auckland to 167 for 6 after they were put in to bat. The Auckland top-order got starts, but the side was set back by quick wickets in the middle overs. Raval and Sole then added 63 for the seventh wicket in 6.1 overs to set a competitive total. Raval's knock of 50 came off 40 balls, with four fours and a six, while Sole scored 24 off 18 balls with two fours and a six.