Cricket: Competition heats up in Twenty 20

Anton Devcich had another strong performance for the Northern Knights today. Photo / Getty

The competition for top spot on the Georgie Pie Super Smash ladder has heated up after the Auckland Aces and Northern Knights picked up wins today.

The Otago Volts had a six point lead atop the standings coming into the day's play, and could have put themselves in pole position for the top qualifying spot with a win over Auckland at Eden Park Outer Oval.

That win looked likely when Auckland were reduced to 128-8 after being put into bat. With only the masterful Colin Munro (45 from 17) putting up top-order resistance, Robbie O'Donnell (33 not out) and Mitchell McClenaghan (16) added 28 from the last 15 balls of the game to help the hosts reach a defendable 156/9.

As it happened, that ninth wicket stand was crucial, as Auckland held on for a one run win.

Despite Anaru Kitchen getting the Otago innings off to a flier with 45 off 22 balls, Donovan Grobbelaar (1-14 from three overs) and Tarun Nethula (1-21 from four) tied down the Otago middle-order batsmen who couldn't keep up with the required run rate.

A last ball six from Sam Wells wasn't enough as the Volts finished at 155/6.

Elsewhere, the Knights moved into second on the ladder with a comfortable seven-wicket win over the Wellington Firebirds at the Basin Reserve.

A brilliant unbeaten 92 from Stephen Murdoch comprised 60% of Wellington's runs as they could only muster 152/5, slowed down by a woeful eight from 20 balls from opener Michael Papps.

In response, Anton Devcich continued his excellent start to the T20 campaign with 67 from 53 balls, before Irish import Kevin O'Brien saw the Knights home with an unbeaten 33.

The Volts still sit atop the standings with 16 points from six games, two points ahead of the Knights, and the Aces, who have played a game less.