Albion retained its Borton Cup lead when it beat St Kevin's College by eight wickets at Awamoa Park on Saturday. Union moved clearly into second place when it defeated Oamaru, which had been second equal with Union going into the game, by eight wickets at King George Park while Valley beat Waitaki Boys High School by five wickets.
St Kevin's won the toss and decided to bat first against Albion but after being 18 for two after eight overs slumped to 67 for five after 17 overs before the side was dismissed for 84 in the 32nd over. Shaun Robertson(25) was the best of the College batsmen while bowling for Albion Paul Odell who at one stage was sitting on a hat trick at two for two finished with four for 11 off his eight overs while Ricky Whyte claimed three for 14 off his ten overs.
Peter Cartwright(32) led Albion to 87 for two, the winning runs coming in the 17th over.
Union won the toss and sent Oamaru in to bat. From 18 for one after seven overs, Oamaru collapsed to 46 for six after 15 overs before a rear-guard action from David Sewell(40) saw Oamaru through to 84 before the tenth wicket fell in the 26th over. Dan Conlan took three for 19, Glynn Cameron, two for 13, Chris Ware, two for 25, and Paul Johnston, two for 17.
Union took only 20 overs to reach 104 for two with Mitchell Clarke(29), Jeremiah Shields(27) and Sean Conlan,25 not out leading the way.
Valley registered its second win in the Borton Cup competition when it defeated Waitaki Boys High School by five wickets at Milner Park on Saturday. Valley won the toss and put the school side in to bat. Sean Eathorne(57) and Adrian Myburgh gave Waitaki Boys a sound start at 51 without loss after eight overs. Eathorne's departure in the middle stages of the games saw Tom Squire(62) and Matt Day(24) assist the side through to 209 before the tenth wicket fell. Waitaki found Geoff Mavor hard to get away with Mavor who finished the innings with three for nine at one stage off six overs had taken two for six. Dave Simpson took four for 59 and Hamish McKenzie, two for 45.
Valley after six overs was battling at 20 for two but Nick Webster(66) and Geoff Mavor(57) saw Valley through to 211 for five with Matt Machan taking two for 33 and Tom Squire two for eight off 3.3 overs.
The battle for the fourth spot in the Borton Cup playoffs has intensified with St Kevin's, Waitaki Boys and Valley all tied on 20 points.
Short Scorecard(s)
Senior - Borton Cup - Round 9
St Kevins 1st XI vs Albion Senior at Awamoa 1
St Kevins 1st XI 84 ( S. Robertson 25, P.M. Odell 4-11, R. Whyte 3-14 )
Albion Senior 87-2 ( P. Cartwright 32 )
Albion by 8 wickets
Oamaru Senior vs Union Senior at King George Park 1
Oamaru Senior 102 ( D.G. Sewell 40, D. Conlan 3-19, G.R. Cameron 2-13, P. Johnston 2-17, C. Ware 2-25 )
Union Senior 104-2 ( M.S. Clarke 29, J.H. Shields 27, S. Conlan 25no )
Union by 8 wickets
Valley Senior vs Waitaki Boys 1st XI at Milner Park 1
Waitaki Boys 1st XI 209 ( T. Squire 62, S.W. Eathorne 57, M. Day 24, D. Simpson 4-59, G. Mavor 3-9, H. McKenzie 2-45 )
Valley Senior 211-5 ( N. Webster 66, G. Mavor 57, T. Squire 2-8, M.W. Machan 2-33 )
Valley by 5 wickets