That elusive win once again eluded Valley in Borton Cup cricket when it lost by thirty runs in a low scoring game against Waitaki Boys High School first X1 at Milner Park. Batting first Waitaki Boys was dismissed for 128 in the forty eighth over with Nathan James top scoring with forty six invaluable runs. Bowling for Valley Reuben Simpson took two for 24 off nine overs while Cameron Grubb claimed two for five off his ten overs and Hamish McKenzie chimed in with two for26 off nine overs.
Valley never built up any momentum in its chase and lasted only thirty one overs before the tenth wicket fell at ninety six with Lachie Kingan's thirty seven showing any real resistance. Bowling for Waitaki Boys Ben Mavor took two for eight, Toby Johnston, three for 17 and Blake Martin, three for 11.
In a sensational finish Union snatched a solitary one run victory and ended Albion's winning run of wins in senior cricket. Union batting first at with Sam Bastin(74) continuing his run of runs and with Dylan Edwards(27) featured in a fifty one run fourth wicket for the fourth wicket while Matt Lilley(37) was the pick of the rest. Bowling for Albion Jordan Cafferkey took four for 51 and Brady Kingan took two for 29 .
Albion looked to be cruising in its chase at 100 for four after twenty five overs with Cafferkey(36 not out) and Jonty Naylor(33) laying a solid base. With nine overs remaining Albion required sixty eight runs for victory. The runs came slowly but with skipper Ricky Whyte at the crease Albion needed only one run off the last four balls of the fiftieth over. Whyte intent on victory cracked what would have been a wide to point where he was caught and the innings ended with Albion just two runs short of its fifth victory for the season. Paul Johnston took four for forty-nine and Blake James two for 18.
Short Scorecard(s)
Senior - Borton Cup - Round 5
Valley Senior vs Waitaki Boys 1st XI at Milner 1
Waitaki Boys 1st XI 128 ( N. Jones 46, C.N. Grubb 2-5, H. McKenzie 2-26 )
Valley Senior 96 ( L.T. Kingan 37, B. Martin 3-11, T. Johnson 3-17, B. Mavor 2-8 )
WBHS by 32 runs.
Union Senior vs Albion Senior at WCS Outer Oval
Union Senior 208-9 ( S. Bastin 76, M. Lilley 37, D. Edwards 27, D. Drew 21, B. Fleming 12, J. Cafferky 4-51, B. Kingan 3-29 )
Albion Senior 207 ( J. Cafferky 38, J. Naylor 33, D. Winter 33, B. Kernahan 18, R. Whyte 16, S. Guyton 11, P. Johnston 4-49, B. James 3-20 )
Union by 1 run.