Albion won the Tui twenty/20 competition for the fourth time in the weekend with a three wicket victory over Union in the final of the twenty/20 knockout tournament.
Earlier Oamaru set a good target for Albion in the knockout round, setting 170 thanks mainly to North Otago representative Matt Machan. Machan has been continued his run scoring ways in club cricket notching up only the second century to be scored in twenty/20 North Otago club cricket recording a score of 120. Peter Cartwright set Albion of to a great start hitting 19 of Paul Selbies opening over of the innings and Albion never looked back surpassing the required total and moving onto the final.
In the other knock out game Union faced Valley and set the country team a total of 144 thanks to Mitchell Clarke (27), Jeremiah Shields (20) and Ben Cant (20). Glynn Cameron was in good form hitting six fours and one six in his innings of 36 not out. For Valley D Barton took 2-30, while A McKay took 2-32.
Union looked to be cursing for a comfortable win, with Valley needing 60 runs of the final 5 overs, but some big hitting from Hamish McKenzie bought his team right back into the match. His score of 30 not out included three sixes and one four as he almost single handly gave his team the match. With the completion of 20 overs however Valley found themselves two runs short of an unlikely victory. McKenzie was the top scorer for the innings with his 30 while Kingan (27), and Byron Nearle (21) were the others to get twenty or more runs. For Union Chris Ware took the outstanding figures of 2-3 of his 4 overs while Paul Johnston (2-24) and Ben Cant (2-32) both took two wickets each. Union moving to the final while Valley would playoff with Oamaru for third and fourth place.
Union batted first in the final making 138 in its twenty overs with Ben Cant top scoring with 44. Mitchell Clarke made it a good double with the bat notching up 36, while Sean Conlan scored 23. Dylan Winter was the best of the bowlers taking 2-24 of his four overs.
Albion started its run chase badly losing wickets early and looked to be in some trouble at 42-5 after 5 overs however Gareth Duncan and Paul Odell then combined to put their side back in the match with a 70 run 6th wicket partnership. With the loss of Duncan for 34 with the score at 112-6 after 15 overs, the game was still evenly poised but captain Dylan Winter and Odell then took their side to victory with three balls to spare in the final over. Odell was the pick of the Albion batsman top scoring with 56, while Daniel Conlan was the best of the Union bowlers taking 3-27 of his four overs. Albion taking the Tui twenty/20 competition for the fourth time and are the only team to have won the competition more than once.
The third/fourth playoff match was won by Oamaru who managed to defend 110 after batting first against Valley
Short Scorecard(s)
Senior - Twenty/20 - Knockout
Valley Senior vs Union Senior at St Kevins Artifical
Union Senior 144-4 ( G. Cameron 36no, M. Clarke 27, J. Shields 20, B. Cant 20, D. Barton 2-30, A. McKay 2-32 )
Valley Senior 143-7 ( H. McKenzie 30no, C. Kingan 27, B. Nearle 21, C. Ware 2-3, P. Johnston 2-24, B. Cant 2-32 )
Union by 1 run
Oamaru Senior vs Albion Senior at Don Field Artifical
Oamaru Senior 172-2 ( M.W. Machan 120, R. Hill 28 )
Albion Senior 173-6 ( P. Cartwright 58, B. Kernahan 27, P.M. Odell 27no, A.J. Horrell 3-22 )
Albion by 4 wickets
Senior - Twenty/20 - 3rd Place
Valley Senior vs Oamaru Senior at Don Field Artifical
Oamaru Senior 119 ( D.G. Sewell 47, T. Squire 3-22 )
Valley Senior 102 ( A. McKay 23no, G. Clearwater 2-9, M.W. Machan 2-12, R. George 2-22, Khalil 2-33 )
Oamaru by 17 runs
Senior - Twenty/20 - Final
Albion Senior vs Union Senior at St Kevins Artifical
Union Senior 138-5 ( B. Cant 44, M. Clarke 36, S. Conlan 23, D. Winter 2-24 )
Albion Senior 139-7 ( P. Odell 56no, G. Duncan 34, D. Conlan 3-27 )
Albion by 3 wickets