The banks at the University Oval took an absolute hammering yesterday.
Katene Clarke and Joe Carter made sure of that.
The Northern Brave openers put on an absolute show in a cracking 194-run opening partnership to guide the visitors to an eight-run win over the Otago Volts.
They finished with 212 for two but Otago did their best to pull it back late.
Otago captain Luke Georgeson hit two sixes and a four to start the final over leaving Otago needing 12 off the final three balls.
But he was run out when chasing two runs and Otago came up short.
It was an impressive chase from Otago considering the start Northern made with the bat.
Clarke struck 106 runs off just 64 balls in a knock that included eight sixes and seven fours.
It was a sensational innings for the Northern opener to bring up his maiden T20 century.
Carter also produced his highest T20 score with 83 runs off 49 balls, moving past his previous best of 76.
Together, they rocketed to Northern's highest opening partnership of 194, surpassing their previous best of 165.
They came close to edging New Zealand's record T20 stand of 201 set by Central's Peter Ingram and Jamie How in 2011-12.
Clarke clobbered 16 runs, including two mammoth sixes, off the second over, a signal of what was to come.
Carter was also blistering and the duo put on 63 runs in the power play, and never slowed down.
They were brutal, swatting away ball after ball to put Otago under pressure.
Otago just had no answers and Northern raced away to bring up their century in just the 10th over.
Otago had a couple of run-out chances that went begging, but that did not deter Clarke.
He brought up his century off just 61 balls in the 18th over.
The Volts finally made the breakthrough in the following over when Clarke was run out for 106.
Carter met the same fate and was run out the following over to leave Northern on 212 for two at the end of their innings.
In reply, Dale Phillips and Jamal Todd whipped a couple of boundaries off the opening over.
But Phillips skied a shot high and was caught in the next over to leave Otago 13 for one.
Black Cap brother Glenn Phillips met a similar fate and went for 11.
Todd was then caught and bowled by Matthew Fisher in a brilliant effort to leave Otago at 42 for three.
Leo Carter banged a monster six and started to get some traction for Otago.
He brought up his half-century with another big six, but was picked off soon after for 54.
Max Chu played some lovely shots as well to eat into the run chase and Georgeson hit 28 off nine balls in a commendable performance at the end.
They are back at University Oval against Wellington tomorrow.
NORTHERN
K Clarke run out Carter/Chu 106 (65)
J Carter run out D Phillips/Chu 83 (83)
R O’Donnell not out 4 (4)
B Hampton not out 5 (2)
Extras (1lb, 7w) 8
Total (for 2 wkts in 20 overs) 212
Fall: 1-194, 2-201
Bowling: J Duffy 4-0-31-0 (1w), A Hazeldine 2-0-30-0, L Georgeson 2-0-30-0 (2w), B Lockrose 4-0-35-0, M Bacon 4-0-47-0 (4w), G Phillips 4-0-38-0.
OTAGO
D Phillips c Carter b Wagner 5 (5)
J Todd c & b Fisher 12 (9)
G Phillips c KDC Clarke b Fisher 11 (8)
L Johnson st Pomare b Walker 25 (19)
L Carter c KDC Clarke b Wagner 54 (35)
M Chu c Fisher b Walker 44 (27)
L Georgeson run out Lellman/Pomare 28 (9)
B Lockrose c KD Clarke b KDC Clarke 1 (2)
A Hazeldine not out 12 (5)
J Duffy not out 1 (1)
Extras (1b, 7lb, 3w) 11
Total (for 8 wkts in 20 overs) 204 (120)
Fall: 1-13, 2-26, 3-42, 4-84, 5-158, 6-164,
7-173, 8-202.
Bowling: KDC Clarke 4-0-45-1 (2w), N Wagner 4-0-31-2, M Fisher 4-0-42-2 (1w), B Hampton 2-0-21-0, F Walker 4-0-41-2, F Lellman 2-0-16-0.
Result: Northern won by eight runs.
