ROUND 10 of 10
OTAGO VOLTS beat NORTHERN DISTRICTS by 3 wickets
23 February 2025
Queen's Park, Invercargill
Points in this round:
OTAGO VOLTS 4
NORTHERN DISTRICTS 0
All images: PHOTOSPORT
SELECTED MILESTONES
The Volts were still alive, just, as they headed to the deep south for one last shot at qualifying for the Finals in Dunedin, hosting Northern Districts.
Ultimately, a nailbiter win for the Stags in New Plymouth quashed the Volts' last hope here, but the southerners did sign off on their white-ball season with an impressive win.
In a match reduced by early rain to 31 overs per side, the Volts enjoyed bowling first in the deep south, Matt Bacon and Andrew Hazeldine once again quickly in the wickets column.
ND's Joe Carter fought back with a run-a-ball 48 as the remaining opener, but ND's batting didn't really fire after that until big-hitting allrounder Brett Hampton and Josh Brown (38 off 26) joined forced for a 66-run sixth wicket stand.
Hampton finished unbeaten on 56* from just 30 balls, pulling six sixes out of his maroon hat to get ND a total of 226 for six in their 31.
ND needed to start well in reply with the ball, but they were a little off-target, and the Volts' top order enjoyed the opportunity.
Dale Phillips sent all three of Scott Kuggeleijn's first three deliveries to the rope and Jamal Todd soon kicked in for a fluent, 73-run opening stand.
Phillips (39 off 30) was trapped by Matt Fisher and Todd was caught soon after, off Hampton at 77/2. That became 78/3 as Fisher trapped Dean Foxcroft for a two-ball duck and the Volts had hit a speed bump.
Llew Johnson and Leo Carter righted the Voltsmobile, however.
Johnson slammed four sixes and eight fours in a powerful unbeaten 85* and Carter hit seven fours and two sixes in his unbeaten 67*.
They ticked off their target with an unbroken stand of 154* to clinch a seven-wicket win to, at least, end their season on a positive note.
ND, meanwhile, would have plenty to comtemplate after just one win in the campaign, a wooden spoon headed their way for their trouble.
