Cricket: Central Districts reload against Volts after another T20 loss

CD Stags seamer Ben Wheeler bowls against Otago Volts in the Super Smash T20 match at Pukekura Park, New Plymouth, on Saturday. Photo/John Velvin, ESPNZ

The Central Districts Stags will try to keep their playoff hopes alive as they reload against the Otago Volts in Invercargill tomorrow.

The Heinrich Malan-coached Stags had jumped into the "positive train" to talk up their chances of making the playoffs post-New Year but were derailed in a three-wicket loss to the previously winless Otago Volts in New Plymouth on Saturday.

CD (two wins), who sit four points above last-placed Otago, play at Queen Elizabeth Park tomorrow from 4pm but also have back-to-back games against the Wellington Firebirds at Pukekura Park and the Basin Reserve on Friday and Sunday, respectively, to defy the odds.

They are only a win away from fourth-placed Canterbury Kings on 14 points.

Having won the toss on Saturday, CD skipper William Young elected to bat but the batsmen, it seems, had left their willows in the changing rooms at Pukekura Park where wins have eluded them this summer, including a rain-abandoned affair against the Auckland Aces on January 4.

The scoreboard had a sorry look about it as the top four batsmen failed to get into double figures as they posted 147/9 in 20 overs.

No 9 batsman and Black Caps seamer Seth Rance top scored with 42 runs from 15 balls, including five boundaries and three sixes.

No 7 Ben Wheeler was unbeaten on 32 runs (26 balls), wicketkeeper Dane Cleaver added 17 runs at No 5 while Joshua Clarkson managed 12 at No 6.

Otago overhauled the target with 153/7 as captain/opener Rob Nichol led the charge on 43 runs with 10 balls to spare.

Rance took 3-33 and Ajaz Patel and Blair Tickner claimed two scalps each but a wicket-less Wheeler was the most frugal.