“When we came into the Champions League Twenty20, our first challenge was to qualify and we did that. And then it was to win a game in the main event, and we have won two now. I don’t really care where you send us. We’re just happy to continue the winning run we have had. If it’s Jaipur, yes, it’s probably a preference, but we have to wait to find out if we are in the semifinals. But if we are, then it’s huge for this team. It goes back to the hard work that has gone in way back in July when we started preparing.”
After his team’s incredible Super Over victory over Highveld Lions, Otago Volts coach Vaughn Johnson summed up the reasons behind his team’s superlative unbeaten run of 16 matches (including the washout in Ahmedabad). Retrieving victory from a likely defeat is a challenge mastered by invincible sides, as seen on Sunday at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium.
When Otago plays Rajasthan Royals in its final Group A fixture, the joy of maintaining the streak will cede ground to the opportunity of confirming a semifinal spot. A defeat could stall the Kiwi side’s fairytale run in this competition, originating from the qualifying rounds.
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If Mumbai Indians overcomes Perth Scorchers in Delhi on Wednesday, Rohit Sharma’s men could leapfrog Otago into second place thanks to a superior net run-rate.