Nobody expected this clash between two potent southern teams to be one-sided. Yet just a few overs into the big derby, the Canterbury Kings were in unfamiliar territory at a cool and sunny Hagley Oval with their backs against the wall.
Kings skipper Ronnie Hira was left scratching his head after having won the toss and decided on a bat, his team having lost their first five wickets in just 4.1 blistering overs from Nathan McCullum, Warren Barnes and Jacob Duffy.
SBS Bank Otago Volts' paceman Duffy was meanwhile on cloud nine — his maiden Georgie Pie Super Smash five-wicket bag (5-18 off four overs) including the class wicket of Henry Nicholls as he fought alongside Todd Astle (28 off 33) to keep the Kings in the game with boundary-strewn half-century.
Henry Nicholls smote 51 off 41 balls
The SBS Bank Otago Volts had raided the Kings' castle to sweep them aside by nine wickets, having reduced their hosts to 134 in exactly 20 overs after Logan van Beek was run out on the final ball.
Despite losing Anaru Kitchen first over, who was bowled by Ed Nuttall (making his Georgie Pie Super Smash debut), the Volts steamed through the remainder of their chase.
Michael Bracewell posted a career-best unbeaten 80 off 49 balls as Neil Broom supported with a run-a-ball 42 as they smashed a second-wicket record for their side against their purple foe, without loss.
The win took the Volts to the top of the table with two epic victories from three games, and this despite their squad having been gutted by early season injuries.
Get your Georgie Pie Super Smash tickets online and go in the draw to win a Ford Fiesta Trend Manual*
* Terms & conditions apply
