Sydney, Oct 11 NZPA - Otago face a sudden death match against Bangalore after losing their Champions League Twenty20 cricket opener by 54 runs to South Africa's Cape Cobras in Hyderabad, India, today.

Chasing 194 to win, Otago were hurt by three crucial run outs early in their innings as they folded for 139 in the 18th over in the group C match.

The New Zealand champions now need to beat the Royal Challengers, including Black Caps batsman Ross Taylor, on their home ground on Tuesday morning (NZT) to progress to the final eight.

Otago made a brisk start to their chase on an excellent batting surface, but were crippled by the run outs of internationals Brendon McCullum for 21, Neil Broom for five and Craig Cumming for 18.

New Zealand vice-captain McCullum was the big wicket, and after hitting 21 off 17 balls he took a risky second run to Henry Davids at third man and was run out by a whisker on the third umpire's call.

Broom was also run out by Davids attempting a second, while Cumming departed after a brilliant direct hit from side on by Herschelle Gibbs.

With regular wickets falling it meant Otago couldn't take full advantage of the injury absence of the Cobras' international paceman Charl Langeveldt.

Allrounder Nathan McCullum gave Otago slim hope with a fighting 38 off 21 balls, but when he was caught at short fine leg it was 116 for six in the 14th.

The Cobras became the first team into the final eight, having beaten Bangalore by five wickets in the tournament opener.

A blazing unbeaten century by stand-in captain Andrew Puttick and a late assault from Justin Ontong boosted the Cobras' total to 193 for four as the Otago bowlers suffered at the death.

Puttick wasn't in the original squad but was called up due to injury to test skipper Graeme Smith.

The left-hander whacked 104 off 62 balls, including 12 fours and three sixes.

Puttick added 95 for the third wicket with JP Duminy (32), then an unbroken 54 off 23 balls with Ontong at the end.

Ontong smashed 39 off 14 balls, including four sixes, as death bowlers Neil Wagner and Ian Butler both conceded over 40 off their four-over spells.

England allrounder Dimitri Mascarenhas gave Otago a solid start, removing Gibbs for one and Davids for 12 as he was the clear pick of the bowlers with two for 20 off four.