Cricket: Auckland join T20 final with Otago

Mondiale Auckland Ace's Colin Munro batting during the Georgie Pie Super Smash T20 cricket match. Photo / Photo Sport

A consummate Auckland bowling effort saw them join Otago in the Georgie Pie Super Smash final after rain ended the elimination match prematurely in New Plymouth.

The Aces dismissed Canterbury for 113 and were 50 for two in reply from 9.3 overs, enough to secure victory by two runs via the Duckworth-Lewis method.

The decision affected few people other than the players and umpires. The crowd was best gauged in dozens rather than hundreds.

After being denied the opportunity to contest direct entry to the final on Friday night, again through rain, Auckland delivered parsimony through the spin of Tarun Nethula ( 2-13) and Rob Nicol ( 2-21) in the middle overs.

Auckland's efforts were also helped by slick glovework from Brad Cachopa, whose stumping of Andrew Ellis and diving right-handed catch of top-scorer Cam Fletcher (33 off 36 balls) reinforced their cause.

Canterbury dissolved from 42-1 in the eighth over, losing six wickets for 31 runs in 46 balls. No 10 Matt Henry's 23 from 10 offered a touch of solace towards the end.

Jeet Raval clunked his way to 14 off 17 balls, narrowly avoiding Kings' hands three times before legside sweeper Ellis took the first of two catches from spinner Todd Astle (2-9 off two overs). Colin Munro was his other wicket, out for two.

Opener Nicol looked in better form with 27 from 32.