SKYCITY Northern Knights 245-8 (Daryl Mitchell 72, Anton Devcich 52, Neil Wagner 4-60) lost to SBS Bank Otago Volts 246-9 in 49.2 overs (Jesse Ryder 52, Jimmy Neesham 38) by three wickets at Queenstown Evenst Centre, Queenstown.
The SBS Bank Otago Volts stay alive in the Ford Trophy, progressing to another sudden death encounter, this time against the Devon Hotel Central Stags at Pukekura Park on Wednesday, to play for a place in the final. Their progress means the SKYCITY Northern Knights go home, after they failed to take the last Otago wickets when it seemed they were closing in on victory. An unbeaten stand of 45 between Neil Wagner and Mark Craig under pressure for the 8th wicket got the hosts home.
In the first innings four Neil Wagner wickets helped restrict the Knights to 245 from their 50 overs, with the middle order contributing the bulk of the runs. Daryl Mitchell (72), Anton Devcich (52) and Mitchell Santner (29) were the top scorers.
Proceedings in Queenstown were typically picturesque.
The Volts lost Sam Wells second ball and regular wickets from then on - BJ Watling took four catches, including that of top scorer Jesse Ryder for 52 from 54 balls. When Jimmy Neesham (38) and Derek de Boorder (18) departed the Knights seemed to be on a roll, but BLACKCAPS pair Mark Craig (26*) and Neil Wagner (20*) inched toward a target that was easy on the runs required but challenging on the wickets remaining.
The pair needed 19 from the last 24 balls and after careful running and a six from Wagner, the Volts needed just two from the last over before reaching their target with four balls to spare.
