The State Otago Volts got off to the best possible start to the State Twenty20 by beating the State Canterbury Wizards by 30 runs at University Oval in Dunedin.
Otago got off to a flyer with Aaron Redmond and Hamish Rutherford putting on 60 for the first wicket.
Nineteen year old Rutherford was the dominant partner making 41 off 23 with Redmond reaching 26 off 17.
Nathan McCullum and Dimitri Mascarenhas then combined to put on a mammoth unbeaten 140 - taking the Volts total to 222 off their 20 overs.
McCullum was in devastating form hitting 76 off 42 including seven sixes with English import Mascarenhas living up to his reputation making 57 off 35.
Michael Davidson was the most economical of the Wizards attack going for 26 with Andrew Ellis taking two wickets but leaking 42.
The State Canterbury Wizards chased valiantly, making 192 in reply – 30 runs short of their target.
Johann Myburgh made an aggressive 73 off 42 to keep the Wizards in the contest and Captain Kruger van Wyk made a frenetic 31 not out off 16 at the end but the massive total proved too much for Canterbury.
Volts pace bowler Ian Butler continued his wicket-taking form from the State Shield final, taking two for 31.
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