Early wickets set Otago A up for win over Auckland

THREE early wickets to Travis Muller set the platform for Otago A to rediscover its winning ways yesterday.

It claimed a sevenwicket win over Auckland A in its twenty20 triseries, in Lincoln.

After holding Auckland A to 131 for seven, it cruised to win with nine balls to spare, bolstered by an unbeaten 53 from Fraser Colson.

That allows it to carry good form into today’s final, bouncing back after having its fourmatch winning streak snapped on Monday afternoon.

Muller opened the bowling and took a wicket in each of his first three overs to leave Auckland at 30 for three in the sixth over.

He finished the spell with figures of three for 15, although eight runs were added to those in his final over later in the innings.

Otago restricted the run rate through the middle of the innings and Auckland scored at just under a run a ball most of the way.

Ryan Harrison managed 44 at just over a run a ball, but Otago remained well and truly in control.

Spinner Ben Lockrose came on and took two wickets, before Jack Hunter claimed two late scalps in his last over.

From there the Otago innings cruised along and kept wickets in hand.

Colson’s 53, off 35 balls, was the side’s key knock.

Hunter Kindley joined him at the end and had the second topscore of 22.