Blackcaps pair Tom Latham and Daryl Mitchell played the starring role for Canterbury Kings, earning their side a Super Smash victory over Otago Volts in Dunedin on Sunday.
Chasing 186 runs for victory, Canterbury eased to their target with eight wickets in hand and just under three overs up their sleeve, with Latham and Mitchell scoring half-centuries.
Opening the batting, Latham seized the early initiative and reached his 50 in just 22 balls, with three fours and five sixes on the short boundaries at University Oval.
Latham departed for a 35-ball 66, out stumped by Max Chu off the bowling of Michael Rippon (1/41), setting the stage for Mitchell to finish the job.
Taking his time, and scoring a circumspect 31-ball half-century in comparison to Latham, Mitchell finished with 68 not out from 39 balls, with five fours and four sixes.
The chase came after Otago captain Hamish Rutherford won the toss and chose to bat first on his home ground, as the Volts racked up an impressive 185/8 from their 20 overs.
Dale Phillips led the way with the bat for the home side, scoring 65 runs from just 34 balls, but lacked any real support before he was dismissed.
Apart from Phillips, Otago's next highest score was an unbeaten 38 from 19 balls to Rippon, showcasing an impressive display of lower-order hitting at the end of the innings.
Henry Shipley shone with the ball for Canterbury, with figures of 4/23 from his four overs.
Otago wouldn't prove as effective in defence of their target though, with the best offering 1/38 to seamer Michael Rae, with every bowler conceding more than nine runs an over as Latham and Mitchell powered the Kings to victory.
Already guaranteed a home semi-final, the result sees Canterbury finish the round-robin stage of the Super Smash in second place with seven wins and three losses for 28 points.
The Kings can't overtake Northern Brave into first place, two points behind the leaders who still have a game up their sleeve - against Wellington Firebirds on Monday.
Regardless of that result, Canterbury and Wellington will meet on Thursday, with the winner to meet Northern in the final on Saturday.
Otago meanwhile finish bottom of the ladder, with just one win, eight defeats and a no-result from their 10 matches.
Otago Volts 185/8 (Phillips 64, Rippon 38 not out; Shipley 4/23)
Canterbury Kings (Mitchell 68 not out, Latham 66; Rae 1/38)
