Borton Cup defending champion Oamaru-St Kevin's will almost certainly qualify as top club for the semifinals in two weeks after it defeated Waitaki Boys' High School first XI by five wickets at Milner Park on Saturday.
It is top of the Borton Cup table, 15 points ahead of second placed Union (55). Albion defeated Valley in the other game.
Bolstered by a fine innings of 97 from player-coach Francois Mostert, Waitaki Boys' set Oamaru-St Kevin's the task of scoring 196.
Mostert's fine innings was backed up by wicketkeeper-batsman Jack Price (28), while bowling for Oamaru-St Kevin's, Matt Murphy took three for 24, and Nick Johnston claimed two for 53.
Waitaki Boys' chipped away at the opposition's innings, claiming the first five wickets for 128 runs, but former Volts all-rounder Craig Smith (29) and Stephan Grobler (40) produced an unbeaten sixth-wicket partnership of 68 to keep Oamaru-St Kevin's in first place.
Albion retained its third place in the Borton Cup ranks with a 62-run win over bottom team Valley on the Outer Oval at Whitestone stadium.
Batting first, the Albion batsmen flourished on their home track. Jonty Naylor (61), Jayden Stockbridge (63), Gary Mahuika (35) and Regan George (26) guided Albion through to 246 for eight.
Bowling for Valley, Cameron Grubb claimed four for 23.
Valley began its chase in impressive fashion, as Andrew Harding (39) and Cameron Leckie (38) featured in an opening stand of 78. But only Grubb (26) and Hamish Loe (23) showed any stickability as the side was dismissed for 184 in the 37th over.
Bowling for Albion, Ricky Whyte took four for 31 and Dylan Winter bagged two for 24.
Short Scorecard(s)
Senior - Borton Cup - Round 8
Oamaru-St Kevins Combined vs Waitaki Boys 1st XI at Milner 1
Waitaki Boys 1st XI 195 ( F. Mostert 97, J.J. Price 28, M. Murphy 3-24, S.F. Grobler 2-22, N.R. Johnston 2-53 )
Oamaru-St Kevins Combined 196-5 ( J. Barlett 45, S.F Grobler 40no, C.M. Smith 29no )
Oamaru-SKC by 5 wickets
Valley Senior vs Albion Senior at WCS Outer Oval
Albion Senior 246-8 ( J. Stockbridge 63, J. Naylor 61, G. Mahuika 35, R.J. George 26, C.N. Grubb 4-23 )
Valley Senior 184 ( A. Harding 39, C. Leckie 38, C.N. Grubb 26, H. Loe 23, R.I. Whyte 4-31, D. Winter 2-24 )
Albion by 62 runs.