Otago marched into the Champions League in a confident mood after winning their third straight qualifying match against the Sunrisers Hyderabad in Mohali. Photo / Getty Images.
Otago marched into the Champions League in a confident mood after winning their third straight qualifying match against the Sunrisers Hyderabad in Mohali. Photo / Getty Images.
Otago marched into the Champions League in a confident mood after winning their third straight qualifying match against the Sunrisers Hyderabad in Mohali.
The New Zealand T20 champions advance to group A and will play the star-studded Mumbai Indians in their opening game in Ahmedabad on Monday night.
In ameaningless match -- as both teams had already qualified -- Otago sent Hyderabad in and restricted them to 143 for five, of which South African international JP Duminy made an unbeaten 57. Spinners Nick Beard and Nathan McCullum picked up two wickets each.
Otago rattled off 144 for five in 16.2 overs, led by captain Brendon McCullum's breezy unbeaten 67 off 39 balls, with five sixes.
Hamish Rutherford and Jimmy Neesham made twenties as Otago nailed their 13th straight 20-over win, equalling the mark of English county Surrey and behind only Pakistan's Sialkot Stallions, who went 25 wins on the trot.
Otago's other group A opponents will be the Perth Scorchers, South Africa's Lions and Indian Premier League team the Rajasthan Royals.
Scores: Sunrisers Hyderabad 143-5 (JP Duminy 57 not out, D. Sammy 26, C. White 25; N. Beard 2-31, N. McCullum 2-23) lost to Otago 144-5 (B. McCullum 67 not out, H. Rutherford 27, J. Neesham 21; D. Steyn 2-13) by five wickets.
