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Otago Volts registered their second straight victory in Mohali on Wednesday and enhanced their chances of making it to the main draw of Champions League Twenty20.
A fine all-round show by Ryan ten Doeschate powered the Kiwi side to a convincing six-wicket victory over Sri Lanka’s Kandurata Maroons. First, the Dutchman bagged two wickets for a mere nine runs, as Volts restricted Maroons to 154 for 9, and then smashed 64 off 32 deliveries, including five sixes and two fours, to help his side overhaul the target with 12 balls to spare.
The New Zealand side plays Sunrisers Hyderabad in its last qualifying match on Friday.
Following their second defeat in as many outings, the Maroons are virtually out of the competition. They lost their opening match to Sunrisers on Tuesday.
The Maroons owed their total to splendid batting by Upul Tharanga, who scored a 56-ball 76. Their other batsmen got starts but failed to build on them.
Otago's chase was anchored by the 33-year-old Doeschate after the early departure of top order batsmen Hamish Rutherford (20), Brendon McCullum (8) and Neil Broom (25).
Doeschate, Otago's top run-scorer in the HRV Cup, came in for Aaron Redmond, who failed with the bat in the first match. He batted freely and hit spinner Kaushal Lokuaruchchi for three consecutive sixes in the 11th over.
James Neesham (32 off 19 balls) gave him good support.
Doeschate perished when Nuwan Kulasekara caught him brilliantly at the boundary, off Dilhara Lokuhattie, but, by then, he had put his side on the threshold of victory.
Dilhara (3-20) was the most successful Maroons bowler.
Earlier, it was Ian Butler who did the damage when the Sri Lankan side batted, scalping three batsmen, including the prized one of Tharanga, who was caught by Brendon McCullum.
Doeschate took two wickets in as many overs giving away just nine runs that triggered a collapse of the Islanders, who were cruising at 99 for 2 in the 13th over.
James McMillan, Neil Wagner and James Neesham shared a scalp each while one batsman was run out.
The Dutchman removed Dilhara Lokuhettige (15) and then dealt another blow by taking Lahiru Thirimanne (6), as six wickets fell in quick succession.
Barring Tharanga, it was listless batting by the Maroons. Star batsman Kumar Sangakkara (13) looked in a hurry and gave away his wicket cheaply.
It was Tharanga's power-hitting all the way that helped the Maroons reach a fighting total. His 56-ball 76 was studded with six boundaries and three towering sixes as bowlers including Nathan McMillan and James
Neesham found themselves at the receiving end.
Image: Ryan ten Doeschate of Otago Volts with James Neesham
Photograph: BCCI