Otago burst back in to form with a six-wicket win over the defending one-day champion.
Auckland’s star-studded batting line-up misfired its way to a trifling total of 187 at Cobham Oval yesterday.
He removed dual danger men Martin Guptill and George Worker.
Spinners Michael Rippon and Ben Lockrose helped keep the pressure on during the middle overs, and Michael Rae was a little wayward but he picked up two key wickets.
The Volts made light work of the chase thanks to a stunning partnership between Llew Johnson and Dale Phillips.
Both players punched out career-high list A scores.
Johnson blazed three sixes and eight fours in a punishing knock of 81 from 80 balls, while Phillips played a support role with 69 from 85 balls.
The pair put on 145 for the second wicket.
They were thumped by nine wickets by Central Districts in Dunedin last week.
Their batting had faltered, but coach Dion Ebrahim resisted making changes to the top order and it paid off.
"Duffy’s spell of three for 30 was outstanding but I thought he got very good support from Lockrose and Michael Rippon when they bowled in tandem," he said.
"[Johnson’s innings] was a hell of a good effort.
"After the first game, it was important the guys went out there with confidence and played instinctively and Llew, in particular, was outstanding.
"I thought he negated the swinging ball really well early doors, but he also played to his strength."
That strength is to club the ball and club it hard.
Otago will have a selection dilemma for its next assignment against Central Districts at Pukekura Park on Sunday.
Black Cap Glenn Phillips is expected to make his debut for Otago.
He has been in the sort of form that makes bowlers quiver and the dimensions of the ground will not offer the Stags’ attack any comfort.
It is a tiny ground and Glenn Phillips has a heavy bat.
Duffy got Otago off to a strong start yesterday. He hit the top of off stump to remove Worker for a golden duck.
That was a big scalp but the next was even bigger. Guptill clunked a lofted drive to mid-on.
He had raced to 24 and was looking in good touch.
Chapman followed Guptill back into the dressing room after top edging a pull shot for six.
The Aces had loss three wickets inside the first 15 overs.
It can be a difficult spot to wriggle free from and they struggled.
Will O’Donnell held up his end. He soldiered through with an undefeated 76.
He had some support from Ben Horne (24) and Ashok (22). But Auckland continued to lose wickets regularly and was bundled out in the 46th over when Ben Lister was run out for six.
Johnson made the throw from point and hit the sticks.
The run-out denied O’Donnell the opportunity to go on a late hitting spree.
AUCKLAND
M Guptill c Rae b Duffy 24
G Worker b Duffy 0
W O'Donnell not out 76
M Chapman c Duffy b Bacon 6
R O'Donnell c Rippon b Rae 7
S Solia c Foxcroft b Rae 3
B Horne b Rippon 24
A Ashok lbw b Lockrose 22
W Somerville st Chu b Lockrose 0
D Ferns c Chu b Duffy 0
B Lister run out 6
Extras (1b, 7lb, 11w) 19
Total (all out, 45.2 overs) 187
Fall: 1-1, 2-43, 3-54, 4-72, 5-84, 6-124, 7-177, 8-177, 9-178, 10-187.
Bowling: J Duffy 10-0-30-3 (3w), M Rae 7.2-1-35-2 (6w), M Bacon 8-2-38-1 (2w), M Rippon
10-2-34-1, B Lockrose 10-0-42-2.
OTAGO
H Rutherford c Horne b Lister 0
L Johnson c Guptill b Somerville 81
D Phillips lbw b Ashok 69
D Foxcroft lbw b Ashok 3
J Finnie not out 13
M Rippon not out 9
Extras (4b, 2lb, 7w, 2nb) 15
Total (for 4 wickets, 35.1 overs) 190
Fall: 1-0, 2-145, 3-162, 4-165.
Bowling: B Lister 8-1-36-1 (1w, 2nb), S Solia 4-0-28-0 (2w), D Ferns 6-0-31-0, A Ashok 9.1-0-46-2, W Somerville 8-1-43-1 (1w).
Result: Otago won by six wickets.
