Volts maintain winning start

State Otago Volts maintained leadership of the State Twenty20 table with a 14-run victory over State Auckland Aces at Eden Park.

A captain’s knock of 75 by Auckland’s Richard Jones was the key feature of the Aces’ run chase, having been set 182 to win by Otago, who won the toss and elected to bat.

Chris Gaffaney (43), Gareth Hopkins (47) and Greg Todd (30) led the way in Otago’s 181 for seven from their 20 overs.

Kyle Mills took two wickets, with one each to Chris Martin, Scott Styris, Roneel Hira and Paul Hitchcock.

Warren McSkimming inflicted an early blow by removing Hitchcock second ball. The Auckland top order failed to fire, with Jones holding the fort.

A 50 partnership with Dave Houpapa (26) moved the side forward, and Mayu Pasupati’s 28 off just 15 balls closed the gap.

But Otago stayed in control to take the four points.