Marshall smashes 100 to seal 160 chase

Hamish Marshall's third T20 century led Wellington to a six-wicket victory over Otago in Alexandra. His innings was all the more remarkable considering the target was only 160.

Marshall walloped 100 off only 58 balls with 12 fours and three sixes to secure the win with more than three overs to spare. His knock was, perhaps, necessary as well considering Otago were able to get regular wickets at the other end. The first one fell with the score on 30, while the second and third came within 13 runs. But that mattered less and less with Marshall lasting longer and longer. His first fifty came in 34 balls and the second one took only 24.

Otago struggled to have a batsman make similarly big runs. Only their opener and captain Hamish Rutherford got past 32 - and even then he fell for 47. While he was in, the second wicket contributed 41 runs at 9.46 per over and, in the slog overs, Michael Bracewell and Josh Finnie added 58 runs for the fifth wicket at 9.40 per over. The late surge, it turned out, came a little too late.

Credit for that should also go to the Wellington bowlers. Luke Woodcock and Hamish Bennett picked up three wickets between them, and conceded a little over seven runs an over each. Grant Elliott was better, giving away just over a run a ball.

The most economical bowler on the day though was Otago left-arm spinner Anaru Kitchen, who opened the bowling and finished with 4-0-15-1.