St Kevin’s College and Oamaru will face off in the 29th edition of the Borton Cup final after their respective close semifinal wins over Union and Valley.

Oamaru won the toss and elected to bat against Valley, struggling to 126 before the final wicket fell in the 40th over.

Jordy Bartlett was the only batting contributor of any note, top-scoring with 30 not out.

The wickets were shared among the Valley bowlers, Jake Matthews taking three for 18, Sean Webber two for 35, Lachlan Kingan two for 21 and Dallas Mahuika two for 16.

Like Oamaru, Valley struggled in its chase as Oamaru made the most of its chances in the field.

Opener Jack Price reached 23, but wickets were falling regularly at the other end.

Shannon Dunnett (22) and Isaac Clunie (20) looked like they might get their team close, but after the fall of Clunie, the final two wickets fell quickly, and Valley was out for 109 in the 30th over.

Harvinder Sandhu took four for 31 for Oamaru, backed by Nick Johnston (three for 22) and Stephan Grobler (two for 36).

St Kevin’s reached 217 all out in the 50th over against Union.

Openers Liam Cameron (35) and Campbell Fowler (31) put on 51 for the first wicket.

Ideally placed at 103 for two in the 30th over, Craig Smith then took to the Union bowlers, top-scoring with 86.

Blake Martin led the Union attack with three for 40, and Brad Fleming took two for 52.

Union lost an early wicket but Jeremiah Shields (73) and Gary Singh (38) combined for 115 for the second wicket.

Duncan Drew (28) and Fleming (19) then moved their team within 26 runs of victory and looked to have the game well under control at 192 for five in the 39th over.

St Kevin’s fought back with the key wicket of Drew, which started a collapse, Union losing five wickets for the addition of only three runs.

Union folded for 195, St Kevin’s winning the match by 22 runs.

Liam Direen (three for 28) and Sam McCarthy (three for 22) bowled well for the schoolboys, while Smith grabbed two cheap wickets.