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Kai Schwoerer / Getty Images
Mitch Renwick combined with Llew Johnson to lead Otago to a grand total against Auckland. (File image)
Otago youngster Llew Johnson made the most of his second chance to lead the Volts to victory in their first Super Smash game against Auckland.
The 20-year-old middle-order hitter led the way with 72 of 44 balls while Otago was 219-7, which turned out to be too much for Auckland, which lost by 45 runs.
Johnson was making his first appearance since he was called up alongside the Volts T20 when he was 17 years old in January 2018.
Back then he had just 18 runs in three innings combined. But after starting this summer with 256 unbeaten in a club game (believed to be an all-time record in Dunedin), Johnson looked right at home in the top tier on Monday, bringing the Aces attack to all. parts of Molyneux Park.
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He entered his half century with just 32 balls, coming up with one of seven sixes and finishing with two fours.
The day started quite well for Auckland as they won the draw and chose to go bowling. But it didn’t take long for that decision to come into question when Otago hit 20 in the start.
Hamish Rutherford and Neil Broom added another 14 in the next over and went 41-0 before Ollie Pringle knocked out Rutherford (25 of 13) in the fourth.
Broom continued to attack, finishing with a quick 30 of 13, and Nick Kelly added 27 of 18, but it was Johnson who managed to kick.
He made a 77-run partnership with Mitch Renwick, who broke 42 of 22 before Johnson led the hosts past 200.
He was finally fired in the final for trying to hit Danru Ferns for a long time. Ferns finished at 3-43, but Glenn Phillips was the only ace pitcher to actually hold off the Otago hitters, posting a 2-22 tidy record.
Auckland got off to a bad start in the chase when Matt Bacon, who won 3-18, sent Graeme Beghin to four.
Sean Solia (30 of 29) and William O’Donnell (23 of 15) stabilized the boat, but three quick windows for just 24 left the visitors in a hole they could never get out of.
Ben Horne kept the Aces rolling around with a half-century maiden T20, but the lack of support meant they never threatened the target.
The result was Auckland’s second straight loss to start the season, having gone to Wellington on Christmas Eve. They will look to break their duck on Thursday against the Central Stags, while Otago will face Canterbury on Tuesday.
Take a look
At Molyneux Park, Alexandra: Otago Volts 219-7 (Llew Johnson 72 of 44, Mitch Renwick 42 of 22, Neil Broom 30 of 13; Danru Ferns 3-43, Glenn Phillips 2-22) beat Auckland Aces 174 in 19.5 overs (Ben Horne 62 of 35, Sean Solia 30 of 29) for 45 runs.
Stuff MVP Points: Llew Johnson 3, Mitch Renwick 2, Glenn Phillips 1.
