McCullum powers Otago to beat Faisalabad

MOHALI: Brendan McCullum essayed a captain’s innings to help Otago Volts beat Faisalabad Wolvees by eight wickets in the first qualifying games of the Champions League T20, 2013.

It was a captains’ day as Misbah-ul-Haq’s knock of 46 had helped Faisalabad recover from a poor position and took them to 139 for eight in their 20 overs. Otago chased the target with 13 balls to spare.

Chasing 140, Otago got off to a tough start when Neil Broom inside-edged one from Samiullah Khan onto his pads and it carried to first-slip. Brendon McCullum then took control of things with Hamish Rutherford. The latter looked in great touch as he belted two sixes effortlessly and was in control of proceedings.

Watching McCullum and Rutherford in command, Misbah summoned his main weapon, Saeed Ajmal. The off-spinner started with a wide, but had Rutherford immediately as the batsman tried to loft him over the leg-side. The fielder in the deep, Asif Ali, took a good catch diving forward.

Faisalabad then pulled things back and there were a few quiet overs that put pressure on the Otago batsmen. However, McCullum broke the shackles when Ehsan Adil came to bowl the 12th over. Derek de Boorder hit a six and a four and get his innings going as Otago milked 17. In the next over, McCullum was dropped at long-off as Asad Ali misjudged it and fumbled. McCullum got to his 50 at a run a ball and it was a responsible innings on the day.

Earlier Misbah-ul-Haq's 46 off 34 deliveries powered Wolves to 139 which was respectable considering the sedate start by the Pakistan franchise. McCullum's blitz was too hot to handle for Wolves who now need to win their remaining games in order to qualify for the next stage of the competition.