18 Sep 2013

Otago win Champions League opener

5:29 am on 18 September 2013

The Otago cricketers have won their opening qualifying match at the Champions League Twenty20 tournament in India, beating the Faislabad Wolves of Pakistan by eight wickets.

After deciding to bat first, the Wolves top order struggled against Otago's pace attack and it took a knock of 46 from captain Misbah ul Haq to get them through to 139.

Otago lost opener Neil Broom without scoring, but a man-of-the match unbeaten knock of 83 from captain Brendon McCullum got them through to their target in the 18th over with the loss of just two wickets.

Coach Vaughn Johnson says it was a good effort by his side, but to be fair the Pakistani's preparation wasn't good as they'd had visa problems and had just one training before the match.

Otago need to win one more of their remaining two qualifying matches to make the main draw.

It is Otago's first win at the Champions League, having lost all their matches in 2009.