Otago vs Auckland, Elimination Final - Live Cricket Score, Commentary

That's that from the Elimination final. Auckland came back from the dead to end Otago's campaign and in the process booked a date with Wellington for the Super Smash 2019-20 title. That encounter is going to be a cracking one. Do tune in on Sunday. For now, goodbye and take care..

Ronnie Hira: Swing as hard as I can. Haven't got too many in this competition and it was a lose-lose situation, swing hard and see what comes off. Try and hit boundaries as often as you could (was the message with ODonnell). We had lost a couple of semis in the previous years to Stags obviously happy to get over the line. We haven't had a complete performance and hopefully we can do that in the final.

Phew! What a game! Auckland looked dead and buried when Chapman was dimissed in the 16th over but the pair of Hira and ODonnell played a couple of gems to take them over the line. The chase did not get off well as Munro departed early, Guptill and Phillips steadied the innings with a 68-run partnership. But Michael Rae brought Otago back with two wickets in one over. He also removed Cachopa and gave his side the upper hand. Needing 33 off the last two overs, Hira took 20 from the penultimate over and ODonnell finished off by scoring the rest in the last. In the end, Auckland won with a ball to spare and booked their place in the final.

Nathan G Smith to Robert ODonnell, FOUR, Auckland are through to the final. Celebrations start in the Aces' dugout. ODonnell lets out a roar as he holds his arms aloft. Full delivery around off, ODonnell drills the drive straight through the vacant mid-off region and finishes it in style

Nathan G Smith to Robert ODonnell, 2 runs, slower short of length delivery and ODonnell plays a controlled pull in front of square on the leg-side, the fielder from deep mid-wicket gets across and slips while throwing, easy two and the equation is 1 off 2 balls..

Nathan G Smith to Robert ODonnell, SIX, 10 in 2 and the equation has come down to 3 off 3.. This is brilliant batting under pressure. Good length ball angled across, ODonnell shuffles and absolute nails the heave to cow corner, the wind takes it over the rope quite comfortably

Nathan G Smith to Robert ODonnell, FOUR, full and outside off, the angle from round the wicket provided the room for ODonnell to slice it over backward point, sweeper gets there but the ball rolls back and hits him on the hand as he is over the rope. 9 off 4..

Kyle Jamieson, right handed bat, comes to the crease

Nathan G Smith to Ben Horne, out Caught by Michael Rae!! Terrific catch by Rae. Horne had no option but to go for it. He picks out the slower delivery and gets a top-edge towards backward square, Rae moves to his left from short fine and puts in a dive to take the catch. Ben Horne c Michael Rae b Nathan G Smith 0(1)

Nathan G Smith to Ben Horne , THATS OUT!! Caught!!

Ben Horne , right handed bat, comes to the crease

13 off 6 now.. Hira did not want to cross as he wanted ODonnell to have strike but that does not happen. Smith to bowl the final over. He will have to hold his nerve and bowl to his field. Easier said than done. Let's see..

Jacob Duffy to R Hira, out Caught by Kitchen!! In the air.. taken! Duffy has his wicket but he might have liked it much earlier. Hira departs after keeping his side in the chase. There is a check for a front foot no-ball and Duffy just has some part of his boot behind the line. Slower delivery and Hira is deceived by the lack of pace, skies it straight up and Kitchen settles under it near cover. R Hira c Kitchen b Jacob Duffy 33(15) [4s-3 6s-2]

Jacob Duffy to R Hira, THATS OUT!! Caught!!

Jacob Duffy to R Hira, SIX, oh my! The Otago skipper is being taken to the cleaners. 13 off 7.. Angled in and ends up on the pads, Hira picks it nonchalantly over backward square, plenty of wood and it sails over the rope

Jacob Duffy to R Hira, FOUR, woah! That is a superb shot. 19 off 8 now and it is possible. Full delivery outside off, Hira stands his ground and chips it over extra cover, the timing was such that it almost went the distance

Round the wicket

Jacob Duffy to R Hira, SIX, Hira keeping Auckland in the hunt. Slower short of length delivery and it sits up nicely for the southpaw, he transfers his weight back and nails the pull over deep mid-wicket

Jacob Duffy to Robert ODonnell, 2 wides, down leg and ODonnell does not connect with the pull, the keeper has to tumble to make the save and the batsmen take the opportunity to cross over

Jacob Duffy to R Hira, 1 run, floaty full delivery and Hira crashes it straight down the wicket, the ball deflects off the stumps to mid-off