Volts crash out after second loss

After months of buildup Otago Volts' Indian Champions League campaign was over in the space of just three days.

Otago entered the 12-team tournament rank outsiders but with seven current or former internationals on their roster they were hopeful of an upset.

Instead, key players failed to deliver as the New Zealand representative at the tournament lost both pool games.

Their last outing yesterday morning was against Bangalore and they suffered a heavy loss by 80 runs.

The Indian Premier League team posted 188 batting first thanks to an unbeaten 73 from 59 balls by opener Jacques Kallis.

New Zealander Ross Taylor also dished up some pain to the Otago bowlers when he smashed 32 off just 11 balls.

In reply Otago never looked likely, losing wickets at regular intervals.

For Otago the less than startling display in India means they won't get their hands on the large chunk of the $9m prizemoney on offer.

But, unfortunately, what it may also do is put New Zealand's invite to the tournament in jeopardy in the future.

Otago skipper Craig Cumming signed off on a pretty sombre note as his team prepared to head back to New Zealand following the early exit.

"We are really disappointed, we had high expectations today but Bangalore were better than us," he told reporters in India.

"They built around Jacques and Ross finished it off. It's been a privilege to be here, representing Otago cricket."

Otago will now turn the focus quickly to the New Zealand domestic season, which starts next month.

Otago's first-up fixture will be a four-day game against Northern Districts in Dunedin starting on November 10.

The players will need to quickly adjust their mindset from the shortened twenty20 format to the longer version of the game.

- © Fairfax NZ News

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