Canterbury leapfrog Otago to book T20 men’s final

Big hitting from openers Chad Bowes and Ken McClure has helped Canterbury snatch the top finals qualifying berth from Otago in the men’s T20 Super Smash.

Canterbury Kings players celebrate.
Photo: Photosport

In a dramatic final round of regular season matches in both of the Super Smash competitions in Dunedin, Canterbury beat previous men’s leaders Otago to leapfrog into top spot while Otago’s women’s snatched victory over Canterbury to cement second place.

The upshot is that Otago finished second in both competitions and will stage the men’s and women’s elimination finals back at Dunedin’s University Oval on Thursday.

The Otago men will face Northern Districts, in pursuit of a final berth against Canterbury on Saturday, while the Otago women will once again meet Canterbury, with the reward a decider against runaway table-toppers Wellington.

McClure scored 68 off 42 balls and Bowes 52 off 32 as Canterbury chased down Otago’s 166-8 comfortably on Monday, reaching 167-2 in the 17th over.

Former Black Caps legspinner Todd Astle did most damage with the ball for Canterbury, taking 3-24 off four overs.

Only opener Jake Gibson (75 not out off 48) and the in-form Dean Foxcroft (46 off 29) batted effectively for the hosts, who collapsed badly, losing five wickets for nine runs midway through their innings.

It was closer in the final women’s last regular season match, with Canterbury’s 166-4 being chased down by Otago with one ball to spare.

The hosts reached 167-6, thanks largely to an unbeaten 47 from wicketkeeper Polly Inglis.

Canterbury captain Amy Satterthwaite scored 85 and opener Kate Anderson 59 but none of their other batters could reach double figures.

– RNZ