Otago A overseas players offer coach some interesting options

OTAGO coach Rob Walter will have some interesting options to consider if the Volts bowling unit starts to falter.

Otago A beat Canterbury A by 53 runs in a threeday match in Oamaru yesterday.

Both batting lineups had a lean time on a seamerfriendly surface.

But a gutsy 45 from Max Chu in the second innings and a valuable 39 not out from Jack Hunter helped set up the win for Otago A.

Promising leftarm spinner Ben Lockrose closed the chase with a brilliant five for 23 from nine overs.

Lockrose, who made his debut for Otago last season in a twenty20 match, used a combination of flight and turn to create carnage.

But it was seamer Travis Muller who arguably impressed the most. The South African rightarmer is one of three overseas players in the Otago A team who have signed a declaration of intent to play for New Zealand.

He grabbed five for 13 from 13 overs in the first innings, and backed up with three for 30 in the second to help dismiss Canterbury for 123.

The 25yearold has played 43 firstclass games and bowls at a reasonably brisk pace. He transferred south this season to stake his claim for a spot in the Volts squad.

He will qualify to play as a local in the domestic competitions at the end of the season.

Australian Tom Beaton and Indian Harsh Visavadiya have also signed declarations of intent and will qualify at the start of next season.

The trio are at present considered overseas players and cannot play in either the oneday competition or the firstclass tournament.

However, they can play in the twenty20 competition as overseas players.

Each team is allowed to field two overseas players in the Super Smash. It is understood Otago is close to signing two different overseas profes sionals, so the trio are unlikely to see action for the Volts this summer.

Once the three qualify, they will face stiff competition for a place in the side.

Each team is allowed to field two qualifying players in its starting XI.

Otago already has two contracted qualifying players in Michael Rippon and Christi Viljoen.