Shelford Meads already has the best name in club cricket. Now he has the best bowling figures this summer.
Taieri 121 beat Albion 96 by 25 runs
The Taieri left-arm quick took eight for 29 to help clinch an unlikely 25-run win against Albion on a bowler-friendly surface at Brooklands Park.
His side could manage only a paltry 121 but that proved plenty thanks to Meads - who must be named after two wonderful All Blacks, right?
He struck with his first delivery of the match, trapping Otago training squad member Roald Badenhorst lbw for five.
Meads was getting the ball to grip and jag back at the right-handers and did not have to wait too long for more success.
This time it was fellow opener Taylor Cumberland who got struck on the pad in front of the sticks. Daniel Duke, Jamie Glenn and Nick Beard also had trouble hitting the red thing.
They were all bowled by Meads as their side slumped to 36 for five.
Meads ripped another three wickets out to finish with eight and helped rout Albion for just 96.
Taieri's Gus Wood top-scored in the game with 27, which in the context of the match must have been worth at least twice as much.
Spare a thought for Josh Cuttance. The Albion medium pacer took five for 41 but his effort was consigned to a footnote.
North East Valley 281 for eight beat Kaikorai 246 by 35 runs
North East Valley rattled on 281 for eight to record a surprise 35-run win against Kaikorai at Logan Park.
Hunter Kindley top-scored with 84 from 100 deliveries. He combined in 100-run stand with Fred Humphries and a 74-run stand with Ruan Markram (50).
Humphries (39) was forced to retire hurt, though. He went into the match with a knee complaint and aggravated the injury while pivoting into a pull shot.
But Kindley was the star. He is still developing his power game but times the ball well and launched some delightful drives.
He also hits square of the wicket well and was happy to wait for the deliveries which were in his hitting zone. Iain Robertson helped get Kaikorai's chase off to a rapid start, whacking 49 from 22 deliveries.
Florian Schmidt went for more than 20 in his opening over thanks to Robertson. But he picked up his wicket when Keegan Harrison held on to a catch at long-on.
Schmidt went on to take five for 62 but veteran medium pacer Jamie Murley also had a big impact with the ball. He trapped Rhys Bayly lbw for a duck and then bowled the dangerous Ryan Duffy next ball.
Kaikorai collapsed from 68 for none to 71 for four. Its dangerous middle order kept the pressure on. Geordie Scott clouted 43 from 27, Josh Preston made 58 and Hamish Robertson was undefeated on 40. But Schmidt accounted for the tail with Kaikorai dismissed for 246 in 42 overs.
Carisbrook-Dunedin 248 for nine beat Green Island 171 by 77 runs
Surprise number three.
Green Island lost to Carisbrook-Dunedin by 77 runs in a wacky round of club cricket which saw Kaikorai and Albion also defeated.
Carisbrook-Dunedin has been struggling to put enough runs on the board this season but led by Sean Eathorne posted 248 for nine.
Eathorne top-scored with 87 from 85. He combined with Kane McKay (55) in a productive 104-run partnerships for the fifth wicket.
Nick Eathorne (28) and Chris Ware (26 not out) also made valuable contributions.
Veteran Green Island medium pacer Dion Lobb and Russell Ritchie picked up three wickets apiece.
Lobb also did his part with the bat, adding 40 from 36 deliveries. But Green Island's top order, Scott Simpson aside, failed to have an impact.
Simpson made 41 but left arm quick Chris Ware bowled threatening opener Gregor Croudis for 12 and nicked off Nathan Watt for 10 to finish with three for 35.
Brad Rodden missed out with the bat took three for 19 with the ball to help bowl out Green Island for 171. Sean Eathorne completed a memorable match with two for 20.
