Valley got home in controversial circumstances in the first round of the twenty/20 Dick Hunt Trophy, beating Oamaru with a boundary off the last ball of the match. Union was too strong for Albion, passing the Albion total with eight wickets in hand in the 19th over.
Oamaru won the toss and decided to bat first after the games had been rescheduled for all-weather pitches after rain late in the week. Regan George (57), Khalil (48) and James McAuslin (47) gave Oamaru a fine start but there was little support from the other batsmen and the side crumbled to be out for 200, with James McNally picking up three wickets for Valley.
Valley, needing 201 to win off its 20 overs, was 197 for five with two balls remaining. Oamaru forced a run out of the second penultimate ball and although the batsmen had not crossed, James McNally was given the strike rather than the incoming batsman, by the player umpires. McNally hit a four off the final ball for Valley to win the game. Kelvin Mansfield (49) and Byron Neil (27) gave Valley a solid start and Jordan Horrell took two for 23 for Oamaru.
Union won the toss and put Albion into bat and after 14 overs Albion was 134 for two, with Peter Cartwright (68) and Gareth Duncan (57) plundering the Union attack. Albion lost its last eight wickets for a mere 7 runs with Cartwright and Duncan featuring in a third wicket stand of 124. Stu Dickinson returned the excellent figures of five for 17 of 3.1 overs while Mark Wilson took four for 11.
Union lost two early wickets but Glynn Cameron (66 not out) and Wilson (43 not out) produced an unbeaten third wicket stand of 81 to take Union through to 155 for two in the 19th over.
North Otago Dick Hunt twenty/20
Oamaru 200 (Regan George 57, Khalil ur-Rehman 48, James McNally 3-23, Hamish McKenzie 2-23) Valley 201-6 (Will Bole 63, Kelvin Mansfield 49, Byron Neale 27, Jordan Horrell 2-23). Valley by 4 wickets
Albion 153 (Peter Cartwright 66no, Mark Wilson 44no, Mitchell McRae 27). Union by 8 wickets.
East Otago
Palmerston 152-6 (Greg Stevenson-Wright 62, Geoff Blakely two for 22) Gimmerburn 121-8 (Blakely 38, James Grubb four for 12). Palmerston by 31 runs.
Macraes 147-2 (Matt Sutton 75no, Mike O'Connell 33) Ranfurly 145-6 (Ryan Dowling 61, Chris Vickery three for 20). Macres by eight wickets.
North Otago Other Grades
Matches were cancelled.