At Molyneux Park, Alexandra: Otago Volts 47 (Nathan Smith 4-5 off 4, Logan van Beek 3-19 off 3.4) lost to Wellington Firebirds 53-1 (Tim Robinson 30no off 16) by nine wickets. Click here for scorecard.

The Otago Volts have achieved an unwanted piece of New Zealand T20 Super Smash history.

Otago were skittled for a paltry 47 runs in 12.4 overs in Thursday’s clash against the Wellington Firebirds in Alexandra –the lowest men’s total since the competition started in 2005-06.

Unbeaten Wellington easily chased down their miniscule target, winning by nine wickets.

Otago comfortably wrote themselves into the New Zealand T20 wall of shame, eclipsing the previous lowest score of 72 achieved by Wellington against Northern in Hamilton in 2015-16.

The Volts’ dreadful day got even worse with leading quick Matt Bacon forced to leave the field with an apparent side strain.

It was embarrassing stuff from the Volts after winning the toss and electing to bat. In warm conditions on a good batting wicket, Otago were their own worst enemy. There were several soft dismissals with poor application from the top order.

Former Volt Nathan Smith caused nightmares for his old side, achieving stellar figures of 4-5 from four overs with 21 dot balls.

The 25-year-old has been impressive with the ball since joining the Firebirds for the 2021-22 summer and this performance won’t be lost on the Black Caps’ selectors.

Smith took 10 Super Smash wickets last season at 19.90 with an economy rate of 7.06.

No 11 Bacon was the Volts’ leading run scorer with nine not out with no-one able to reach double figures in an abysmal batting display.

Otago could have easily been rolled for an ever lower score.

Their last pair of Bacon and Andrew Hazeldine added 17 – the highest partnership of the innings.

Smith and Logan van Beek set the tone from the first ball, getting the ball to swing and asking questions of the batters.

Jake Gibson was caught behind off the fifth ball of the innings and the wickets tumbled from there.

Hamish Rutherford was dropped in the deep on five by Iain McPeake, one of the few blemishes of the day for Wellington, but fell soon after.

A yorker from van Beek sent Rutherford on his way two runs later. Max Chu was then knocked over by Smith in the next over as Otago slumped to 11-3.

Dale Phillips fell softly for a duck, picking out Tim Robinson at deep square leg, giving van Beek his second.

Otago were in all sorts of trouble when Smith forced an edge from skipper Dean Foxcroft to van Beek at slip with the Volts 14-5 in the fifth over.

Wellington showed Otago how to do it with the bat, reaching their target in 4.3 overs with nine wickets in hand.

The big moment

Smith struck with the fifth ball of the day and it never got any better for the home fans in the Alexandra sun. When Phillips went meekly for a duck, Otago were 12-4 and you sensed it was going to be Wellington’s afternoon.

Best with bat

Mark down 21-year-old Wellington opener Robinson as a player for the future. Having belted 139 from 64 balls against these same Volts on Thursday, he followed it up with 30 not out from 16 balls, hitting four fours and a six.

Best with ball

How can you go past the outstanding Smith. The man from Oamaru made the ball talk and will long cause nightmares for the Otago top order. They had no answer to him and won’t want to see him again in a hurry.

The big picture

The unbeaten Firebirds look every bit early title favourites. They’re on the road again for their next match against the Northern Brave in Tauranga on Tuesday. Otago don’t have long to lick their wounds, facing a strong Auckland Aces team back in Alexandra on New Year’s Day on Monday.

AT A GLANCE:

Lowest NZ men’s T20 scores:

47: Otago v Wellington at Alexandra; 2023-24

72: Wellington v ND at Hamilton; 2015-16

74: Auckland v ND at Auckland; 2010-11

77: ND v Otago at Dunedin; 2015-16

80: ND v CD at Hamilton; 2018-19

80: Otago v Auckland at Auckland: 2020-21