1
W
6
4
0
1
= 12
Match Details
OTG vs WEL, 20th T20, Super Smash 2025-26 live
OTG
136-5(15.4)
Otago won by 5 wickets đ
WEL
(16.0)132-7
+
P'ship : 18(9)
Commentary
All
Highlights
Overs
W
6s
4s
Inn 1
Inn 2
Milestone
In the first five overs of the chase. Wellingtonâs 132 was always going to test their bowlers, and despite Hartshornâs brilliant 3/17, the early damage was decisive. Otago banked on partnerships, absorbed pressure, and trusted finishers. Wellington will rue the extras and the lack of early wickets. Otago walk away with composure points. And two competition points.
Until then, I am Dev Rajawat, signing off, along with my co-commentator, Ninaad Dixit, and scorer Bishal Mandal. Thatâs it from our side. Thanks for joining. But cricket doesnât sleep. Plenty is happening around the world. Switch tabs, follow the fun. Goodbye from this tab! TAKE CARE! BREATHE AND SMILE! CIAO!
Until then, I am Dev Rajawat, signing off, along with my co-commentator, Ninaad Dixit, and scorer Bishal Mandal. Thatâs it from our side. Thanks for joining. But cricket doesnât sleep. Plenty is happening around the world. Switch tabs, follow the fun. Goodbye from this tab! TAKE CARE! BREATHE AND SMILE! CIAO!
Jacob Cumming (Player of the Match): "Toddy has been taking the pressure off me in the last couple of games. You feel so rushed in 16 overs but you still give yourself the chance. It was a little bit dark so you had to watch the ball hard but we just got on with it.
I feel like I've been striking the ball well. Nice to get it off again today. Today's a perfect example what a great day in Dunedin looks like. This is one of my favorite grounds."
I feel like I've been striking the ball well. Nice to get it off again today. Today's a perfect example what a great day in Dunedin looks like. This is one of my favorite grounds."
Player of the Match: Jacob Cumming
12:27 PM IST, 7:57 PM LOCAL TIME: Cricket bends. Pressure cracks. Calm finishes. Whatâs the one-line verdict from Dunedin? A modest total, a fast start, a brief wobble, and a composed finish. Wellington scrapped their way to 132/7 in 16 overs, but Otago timed the chase better, closing it out at 136/5 with two balls to spare. From Wellingtonâs point of view, the score always felt light on a good surface. From Otagoâs side, it was about not panicking, even when wickets fell. In the end, composure beat control. Margins stayed thin. Moments decided it.
How did the chase explode into life? With intent. And confidence. 16 runs came off the very first over, instantly denting Wellingtonâs plans. The reply was sharp though - James Hartshorn bowled a superb three-run second over, pulling the game back into balance. Still, Otago surged ahead. The Powerplay read 64/0 after five overs, a commanding position. Jacob Cumming looked fluent, finding gaps early, while Jamal Todd struggled for timing, but the scoreboard never stalled. Required rate? Under control.
The Powerplay dominance? The opening partnership. Plain and simple. Wellington failed to break through early, and that hurt them deeply. On a pitch where 132 felt under-par, wickets were the only currency. Cumming ensured Otago stayed well ahead of the rate, striking at 136-plus, while Todd played the anchor. By the end of five overs, Otago had already done half the job. The pressure had quietly switched dugouts.
When did Wellington finally fight back (Overs 6-10)? Right after the Powerplay. Hartshorn struck in the seventh over, removing Todd to end a 73-run opening stand. That wicket mattered. More than the scorecard suggests. He wasnât done either - soon after, Hartshorn dismissed Cumming for a well-made 45, dragging Wellington back into the contest. Suddenly, Otago were 78/2, and the chase had a heartbeat again. Tight lines. Fewer boundaries. Momentum paused.
Did Otago stumble in the middle overs (Overs 11â13)? Briefly. And nervously. Max Chu failed to make an impact, and Jack Boyle struggled, scoring 7 off 13 as Wellington squeezed hard. The run rate slowed, dots piled up, and Wellington sensed an opening. Troy Johnson tried to counterattack, smashing a couple of boundaries, but perished soon after. At 118/5 after 14.1 overs, Otago suddenly needed calm more than power.
Otago needed 8 runs off the final over. Enter Jake Gibson. No fuss. No delay. A four and a six, and it was over. Wellingtonâs bowlers had fought back admirably after the Powerplay, but extras (22 in total) told their own story - five wides at key moments, balls swinging too far, pressure leaking away. Otago crossed the line at 15.4 overs. Game. Set. Done.
Earlier, what went wrong, and what went right for Wellington at the top? A bit of both, but never at the same time. Wellingtonâs first innings never quite settled. Early damage hurt - Tim Robinson fell for 7 and Gareth Severin for a duck inside the first four overs, courtesy of a sharp Ben Lockrose double-wicket burst. That reduced Wellington to 19/2, forcing consolidation instead of acceleration. Tom Blundell, though, stood tall. Calm under pressure, he picked his moments, found the fence regularly, and ensured the innings didnât derail completely. The Powerplay momentum was lost early, and from there, Wellington were always chasing stability rather than imposing themselves.
Where did Wellington recover, and why did it still feel short? The recovery came through partnerships, but the finish lacked punch. Blundellâs 47 off 35 was the backbone, supported well by Muhammad Abbas in a 57-run stand for the third wicket that dragged Wellington back into the game. But once Abbas fell at 76, wickets kept interrupting the rhythm. Jesse Tashkoffâs 24 off 12 added a late spark, and Callum McLachlanâs 13 off 7 gave a brief push, yet the innings never truly exploded. 132/7 in 16 overs felt scrappy rather than threatening - competitive on paper, but on a good Dunedin surface, always a few runs light.
How did the chase explode into life? With intent. And confidence. 16 runs came off the very first over, instantly denting Wellingtonâs plans. The reply was sharp though - James Hartshorn bowled a superb three-run second over, pulling the game back into balance. Still, Otago surged ahead. The Powerplay read 64/0 after five overs, a commanding position. Jacob Cumming looked fluent, finding gaps early, while Jamal Todd struggled for timing, but the scoreboard never stalled. Required rate? Under control.
The Powerplay dominance? The opening partnership. Plain and simple. Wellington failed to break through early, and that hurt them deeply. On a pitch where 132 felt under-par, wickets were the only currency. Cumming ensured Otago stayed well ahead of the rate, striking at 136-plus, while Todd played the anchor. By the end of five overs, Otago had already done half the job. The pressure had quietly switched dugouts.
When did Wellington finally fight back (Overs 6-10)? Right after the Powerplay. Hartshorn struck in the seventh over, removing Todd to end a 73-run opening stand. That wicket mattered. More than the scorecard suggests. He wasnât done either - soon after, Hartshorn dismissed Cumming for a well-made 45, dragging Wellington back into the contest. Suddenly, Otago were 78/2, and the chase had a heartbeat again. Tight lines. Fewer boundaries. Momentum paused.
Did Otago stumble in the middle overs (Overs 11â13)? Briefly. And nervously. Max Chu failed to make an impact, and Jack Boyle struggled, scoring 7 off 13 as Wellington squeezed hard. The run rate slowed, dots piled up, and Wellington sensed an opening. Troy Johnson tried to counterattack, smashing a couple of boundaries, but perished soon after. At 118/5 after 14.1 overs, Otago suddenly needed calm more than power.
Otago needed 8 runs off the final over. Enter Jake Gibson. No fuss. No delay. A four and a six, and it was over. Wellingtonâs bowlers had fought back admirably after the Powerplay, but extras (22 in total) told their own story - five wides at key moments, balls swinging too far, pressure leaking away. Otago crossed the line at 15.4 overs. Game. Set. Done.
Earlier, what went wrong, and what went right for Wellington at the top? A bit of both, but never at the same time. Wellingtonâs first innings never quite settled. Early damage hurt - Tim Robinson fell for 7 and Gareth Severin for a duck inside the first four overs, courtesy of a sharp Ben Lockrose double-wicket burst. That reduced Wellington to 19/2, forcing consolidation instead of acceleration. Tom Blundell, though, stood tall. Calm under pressure, he picked his moments, found the fence regularly, and ensured the innings didnât derail completely. The Powerplay momentum was lost early, and from there, Wellington were always chasing stability rather than imposing themselves.
Where did Wellington recover, and why did it still feel short? The recovery came through partnerships, but the finish lacked punch. Blundellâs 47 off 35 was the backbone, supported well by Muhammad Abbas in a 57-run stand for the third wicket that dragged Wellington back into the game. But once Abbas fell at 76, wickets kept interrupting the rhythm. Jesse Tashkoffâs 24 off 12 added a late spark, and Callum McLachlanâs 13 off 7 gave a brief push, yet the innings never truly exploded. 132/7 in 16 overs felt scrappy rather than threatening - competitive on paper, but on a good Dunedin surface, always a few runs light.
OVER 16
Otago
136/5
Jake Gibson
16(7)
Ben Lockrose
4(4)
Logan van Beek
0-46(2.4)
15.4 Beek to J Gibson
6 SIX RUNS! Gibson finishes off with a huge hit in the leg side! Short of a length outside the off stump. Balances on the backfoot and swings across the line. Pulls it right off the middle of the bat and clears the distance between deep square and deep midwicket for the winning maximum!
That will do for Otago. 3 needed now in 3 balls.
15.3 Beek to J Gibson
4 FOUR RUNS! Nicely done into the off side! Short of a length delivery outside the off stump. Rocks back to cut and does it beautifully. In the air and just wide of the short third man fielder. No protection in the deep. Otago just one hit away from victory.
7 still needed, but the ball remains 4 now.
Commentary