An upset of the defending champion, a win at their spiritual home for one club and an emphatic win headlined the chilly opening round of North Otago senior cricket on Saturday.

Roy Gawn's young Waitaki Boys' High line-up caused the first major upset of the season, beating under-strength Borton Cup holders Valley by three wickets on Don Field.

Fresh pitch conditions, following midweek rain, forced the senior matches onto Oamaru's three artificial wickets - Don Field, St Kevin's College and Awamoa Park - and the first day of senior reserve, second grade and schoolboy cricket to be postponed.

After dismissing Valley for 158 in the 40th over, WBHS chased down the total in the 42nd over, thanks to a patient 32 from Hamish Robertson, Glenn Paterson's slashing 23, Isaac Shields' 29 and Chris Ware's 27. Waitaki were struggling for runs at 30-3 when Paterson took to James McNally's gentle off-spinners, belting 22 runs, including three sixes and a four, from one over to increase the run rate. McNally got the final say, dismissing Paterson with the last ball of that over before Shields and Ware finished off the chase.

"The boys batted well after starting slowly," coach Gawn said of WBHS, who lost opener James McAuslin in the first over. "It's a good result for us. It's quite good for a bunch of young guys."

Ware also did the damage with the ball, taking 4-24, while spinners Stuart Dickinson and Jordan Horrell combined for six wickets. North Otago selector Mark Patterson top-scored for Valley with 36, while Kelvin Mansfield added 26 and James Lovelock 21.

Back at their former home at Awamoa Park, Oamaru defeated Albion for the fourth time in five meetings, pace man David Sewell taking 4-13 from eight overs as Oamaru claimed a 53-run win.
Sewell's quick late-swinging deliveries troubled Albion's batsman, who lost wickets at regular intervals. Brad Kernahan and Paul Cartwright put together a 53-run sixth wicket partnership after Albion were 28-5, but once both left the crease their chase faded. Mark Creighton also took 3-43 for Oamaru.

Nathan Mitchell's steady 89 helped the Chocos to 207 in the 41st over. After losing Robbie Hill and Regan George early, Mitchell and Nick Johnston had a 93-run third-wicket partnership, before Sewell and Mitchell added a further 50.

Some of the lustre from the Union-St Kevin's match-up was lost before the toss, with the venue change meaning the newly created Payne Tempero Trophy, a challenge trophy held by Union, was not at stake. With Glynn Cameron taking 4-14 and Union's other bowlers maintaining a tight line, SKC made 128-6 in their 45 overs, opener Ben Cant batting through 42 overs for a pedestrian, yet vital, 52 as the only batter to score over 20.

New North Otago coach James Cutt batted through the chase, ending on 69 not out as Union cruised home.

Valley 158 (Mark Patterson 36, Kelvin Mansfield 26, James Lovelock 21, Chris Ware 4-24, Stuart Dickinson 4-38, Jordan Horrell 2-35) Waitaki Boys' High 161-7 (Hamish Robertson 32, Isaac Shields 29, Ware 27, Glenn Paterson 23, Lovelock 2-26, Scott Young 2-14). WBHS win by three wickets. Oamaru 207 (Nathan Mitchell 89, Nick Johnston 39, David Sewell 21) Albion 154 (Brad Kernahan 34, Dan Fletcher 33, Peter Cartwright 21, Dylan Winter 20, Sewell 4-13, Mark Creighton 3-43). Oamaru win by 53 runs. St Kevin's College 128-6 (Ben Cant 52, Glynn Cameron 4-14) Union 133-2 (James Cutt 69no, Jeremiah Shields 22no, Cameron 22). Union win by eight wickets