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The Central Stags comfortably defended 297 against the Otago Volts at University Oval in Dunedin.
Tim Weston and Jacob Oram set up the hefty total with a 121 run partnership for the fourth wickets. Weston made 60 from 80 with Oram the top scorer with 78 from 97.
Some late hitting from Graham Napier (18 from 7) and George Worker (24 from 14) propelled the total.
Ian Butler was outstanding for the Volts taking four for 45 with Neil Wagner and Yasir Arafat taking two apiece.
A number of Otago batsmen got starts but they couldn’t kick on and were eventually rolled in the 45th over still 59 runs short of their target.
Butler backed up his fine bowing with a brisk 43 before being run out.
The best Central batsman was also their best bowler with Oram sneering three for 48. Michael Mason and Kieran Noema-Barnett both picking up two.
| Place | Team | Played | Won | Lost | Points | NRR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Auckland | 5 | 4 | 1 | 17 | 0.653 |
| 2 | Central | 5 | 3 | 2 | 12 | 0.156 |
| 3 | Canterbury | 4 | 2 | 2 | 9 | 0.696 |
| 4 | Wellington | 5 | 2 | 3 | 8 | -0.508 |
| 5 | Northern | 5 | 2 | 3 | 8 | -0.665 |
| 6 | Otago | 4 | 1 | 3 | 4 | -0.713 |
