Union will meet Oamaru for the third consecutive season in the Borton Cup Final this coming Saturday. Both teams progressed comfortably through their semi-finals, with Oamaru defeating Albion by 135 runs and Union beating Glenavy by 6 wickets.
Oamaru won the toss and elected to bat first, losing a wicket in the opening over before their top order took control. Luke Taylor led the way with an unbeaten 104 off 89 balls, guiding them to 277/6 of their 50 overs. Quinn Wardle (37), James Ferris (36), Hunter Wardle (32) and Stephan Grobler (27) also contributed.
Aneesh Bose was the pick of the Albion bowlers with 3-54, and Tom Squire took 2-42.
Sabareesh Ramesh (22) gave Albion a bright start, and with Tom Squire (28) and Amal Asok (41) at the crease at 93-2, a challenge looked possible. But the loss of Squire triggered a collapse, and Albion were bowled out for 142 in the 36th over. Stephan Grobler took 5-19 and Asanka Gamlathge 3-45.
Glenavy won the toss and batted, struggling at 3-26 in the 6th over. Jordan Mulligan counterattacked with 75 off 55 balls, his first 50 off just 21, adding 82 for the fourth wicket with Matt Tangney (30). Rodney van Leeuwen added 44 off 27, but the rest failed to contribute. Glenavy all out for 205 in 36 overs.
Liam Mavor took 5-58 and Brad Fleming 4-51.
Blake Martin (33 off 19) gave Union a fast start, and veterans Thomas Shields (59), Blake James (38 not out) and Jeremiah Shields (24) guided them home. Union reached 209-4 in the 44th over to win by 6 wickets.
Sehu Ismail Nijamdeen Nijam took 2-23 for Glenavy.
Oamaru will be going for their third consecutive Borton Cup championship, while Union, who have qualified for 5 of the last 6 finals, last won in 2021.
Short Scorecard(s)
Senior - Borton Cup - Semi-Finals
Albion Senior vs Oamaru Senior at Whitestone Contracting Oval
Oamaru Senior 277-6 ( L. Taylor 104no, Q.I. Wardle 37, J. Ferris 36, H.J. Wardle 32, S.F. Grobler 27, N.R. Johnson 11no, A.C. Bose 3-54, T. Squire 2-42 )
Albion Senior 142 ( A. Asok 41, T. Squire 28, S. Ramesh 22, A.C. Bose 16, T. Beardsmore 12no, S.F. Grobler 5-19, A. Gamlathge 3-45 )
Oamaru by 135 runs.
Full scorecard for the match
Glenavy vs Union Senior at King George Park
Glenavy 205 ( J. Mulligan 75, R. Van Leeuwen 44, M. Tangney 30, Z. Graham 12, H. McCulloch 12, L. Mavor 5-58, B.J. Fleming 4-51 )
Union Senior 209-4 ( T.M. Shields 59, B.G. James 38no, B. Martin 33, J.H. Shields 24, S.C. Kitto 17no, A.M. Wilson 11, S. Nijam 2-23 )
Union by 6 wickets.
Full scorecard for the match
Second Grade - Club30 - Semi-Finals
Oamaru Club30 vs Union Club30 at Weston
Oamaru Club30 109 ( F. La Grange 38no, J. Minaar 11, L. Evans 2-13, H. Armstrong 2-16, K. Chetty 2-17, A. Mishra 2-25, J. McCormick 2-32 )
Union Club30 110-3 ( K. Chetty 40no, H. Armstrong 23no )
Union by 7 wickets.
Valley Club30 vs Albion Club30 at WCS Outer Oval
Valley Club30 100 ( R. Sheehan 26, J. Varghese 3-9, P. Dundass 2-14, J. Nicol 2-28 )
Albion Club30 102-6 ( A. Mathew 24 )
Albion by 4 wickets.
Third Grade - Youth Blast - Sound 11
Valley Girls vs Waitaki Boys 3rd XI at Don Field
Waitaki Boys 3rd XI 115-4 ( J. Drew 34no, A. Walker 2-7 )
Valley Girls 86-5 (J. Drew 2-2, G. Curry 2-12 )
WBHS by 29 runs.
Oamaru Young Guns vs St Kevins College Junior XI at St Kevins Artifical
Oamaru Young Guns 102-4 ( J. Dodds 29no )
St Kevins College Junior XI 95-6 ( J. Stratford 32 )
Oamaru by 7 runs.