The Central Stags vaulted to the top of the HRV Cup Twenty20 standings on the back of beating the Otago Volts by 28 runs today.
Coming off two washouts in New Plymouth, the Stags vented their frustrations with the weather gods by comprehensively tipping over the Volts at Nelson’s Saxton Oval in their fifth round encounter.
Batting first after winning the toss, the Stags compiled 170 for five from their 20 overs, with each of the six batsmen to feature managing double figures.
The most sizeable contribution came from opener Peter Ingram, who stood and delivered in making 42 off 30 balls, with three fours and two sixes, before departing in the 12th over with the Stags at 88 for two.
Behind him another four teammates played their parts, with Mathew Sinclair scoring 30 off 32, Ross Taylor 20 off 14 and Kieran Noema-Barnett 24 off 19 before being dismissed off the final ball of the innings when Doug Bracewell was unbeaten at the other end after hitting 27 off 12, with two sixes.
Left-arm spinner Nick Beard was the best of the Volts bowlers, conceding 25 runs from his four overs and picking up the scalp of Jamie How who he bowled for 13.
Englishman Dmitri Mascarenhas, who starred in his team’s seven-wicket win over the Wellington Firebirds two days earlier, again produced with the ball to take two for 32 off four.
In response, the Volts were in immediately strife after losing dangerous opener Brendon McCullum and Neil Broom in quick succession to be 10 for two inside three overs.
And it didn’t get any better as they struggled to 53 for four at the midway point as the Stags tightened the screws, with experienced seamer Michael Mason to the fore before he ended with the outstanding figures of two for 20 off four overs.
A number of the Volts made starts but none could go on with it, leaving Jimmy Neesham’s 24 off 17 balls as the leading contribution while Beard chipped in with 20 off 11 towards the death before the visitors were dismissed for 142 in 18.5 overs.
Nineteen-year-old quick bowler Adam Milne also impressed in collecting three for 33 off his four overs in his second outing after an injury-enforced layoff.
