Swans show why they are leaders

Waihola Swans bowler Craig Gordon. PHOTO: ODT FILES
Waihola Swans bowler Craig Gordon. PHOTO: ODT FILES
The Waihola Swans cemented their position at the top of the South Otago 40-over competition with a 163-run win over the Valley Stingers at Tuapeka Mouth on Saturday.

The Swans elected to bat after winning the toss and recorded 191 all out in the final over of their innings.

Waihola were 21 for two when Kellan Crowie and Dylan Bungard came together and added 103 for the third wicket, before Bungard was bowled by Chris Moffitt for 55.

Crowie (37) and Jared Cunningham (22) were the other leading scorers to get Waihola through to a defendable total.

Pavv Singh was the pick of the Valley bowlers, notching up his first premier five-wicket bag and returning figures of five for 29 from eight overs.

The Waihola opening bowlers Cunningham and Jared Hayes tore through the Valley order,

making the most of Valley’s lack of patience as the home side were rolled for just 28 inside 15 overs.

Cunningham returned the fantastic figures of seven for 12, while Hayes had three for 15.

The Kaitangata Kings solidified their position inside the top two with a 42-run win over the Owaka Bandits, in Owaka.

After being put into bat, the visitors made 157 for eight from their 40 overs.

Jason Young top-scored for Kai with 43, and both Mark Shepherd and Luc Thomson contributed 23.

Hayden Sheppard led the Owaka attack with three for 34, and Robin Waters celebrated his first over in premier cricket with wickets from consecutive balls.

In reply, a resolute opening partnership between Matt Morahan and Gordon Edwards soaked up a lot of early pressure with no real scoreboard return.

Edwards upped the ante before being trapped in front by Connor Smith for 35, while Morahan grafted away for his 24 but saw batters come and go at the other end, and Owaka were rolled for 115 with less than two overs left.

Daniel Sutherland mopped up the Owaka tail and finished with three for 13 from five overs. Smith also took three wickets.

The Milton King Crabs took back the Cameron Cup as they beat the Clutha Comets by seven wickets.

Clutha elected to bat and opening batter Macleod Glaister raced to 62. He was joined by Abhijeet Gaoli in a 41-run partnership, but none of the last six batters for Clutha could reach double figures and the Comets struggled through to 142 all out in the 35th over.

Milton were served extremely well by 14-year-old holiday fill-in Mac Dickinson, who opened the bowling and returned outstanding figures of five for 13 off 6.2 overs.

Milton chased the total down for the loss of just three wickets inside 22 overs.

Tim Martin was the major contributor with an unbeaten 60 off 49 balls, including four fours and four sixes.

January 10

Two matches were played in the third round of the South Otago Cricket 40-over competition on January 10.

In Milton, the Waihola Swans defended the Burt Pringle Trophy with a commanding 186-run win over the Milton King Crabs.

Waihola finished their 40 overs on 241 for the loss of five wickets. Murphy Lister and Jamie McSkimming were the pick of the Milton bowlers with two poles each.

In response, Milton couldn’t get any kind of momentum going in their innings and were dismissed for just 55 runs in the 22nd over. Lower order batter Brad Milligan swatted 17 in a confident batting effort. Craig Gordon, in his 100th match for the Swans, recorded team best figures of three for 16 off 6.2 overs.

The Owaka Bandits beat the Valley Stingers by 10 wickets at Tuapeka Mouth, to record their second bonus-point win of the season.

Valley was bowled out for 57 runs in the 19th over. Matt Morahan and Hayden Sheppard continued their fine form with three wickets apiece.

Owaka opening batters Matt Morahan and Francis Parker took 11 overs to chase the total down. Parker top-scored with 38 and Morahan finished on 10. Cameron Johnston bowled three quality overs, after being away from cricket for at least a decade.

The other match between Kai and Clutha was cancelled, as pitch conditions were less than savoury. The teams will split points.