Defending champions Owaka Bandits started strongly with a first up win over the Valley Stingers in the first-round twenty20 match of the South Otago competition.
Owaka won the toss at Tuapeka, and bowled first.
Valley's opening partnership of Bevan McCall and Pete Allan put on 37 for the first wicket.
After the initial onslaught, the Bandits bowlers found their rhythm and took regular wickets. Valley was all out for 96 on the last ball of the innings.
Valley captain Lachie Johnston top-scored with 30.
Jeremy Gray returned figures of three for 11 off three overs.
In reply the visitors knocked the total off in the 12th over for the loss of only two wickets. Jacob Beal-Harris was the star for Owaka, hitting an unbeaten 50, with four fours and four sixes. Jeremy Gray was next best with 28.
The Lawrence Lions recorded a nine-wicket thrashing of the Waihola Swans in Milton.
Waihola batted first and was skittled for 64, all out in the 16th over. Extras (18) top-scored, as no Swans batsman could make double figures.
The Lions bowlers shared the wickets around. Jordan McEntee and Slade McDowall took two scalps each.
In reply, the Lions methodically chased the target down in the 12th over, for the loss of only one wicket. Mitch Pryde (26) and Sam Wyber (15) were undefeated at the end.
The Kai Kings survived an early scare with the bat to record a solid opening 21-run win over the Clutha Comets in Balclutha.
The Kings batted first and were in trouble early at 24 for four, and then slumped to 49 for eight.
Veteran Kings all-rounder Jason Young came to the crease and formed some very important partnerships with the tail. Young hit 45 to take his team past the 100 mark He was the last man out with his team total on 102 in the 17th over.
Tyler Ritchie was the best of the Clutha bowlers, taking three wickets in one over.
Kelan Smith also picked up three wickets for the home side.
Young also bowled superbly.
No Clutha batsman could make a decent score, but a few got starts. Sam Mosley hit 15 runs at the top of the order and the final wicket partnership of Connor Smith (15) and Thiyagarajan Gopalan (12) threatened to take the game close but in the end, the side fell short.
Luc Thomson was the main weapon with the ball for the Kings. He finished with three for five off four overs. Lilly Paterson also took three wickets at the death for 15 runs off four extremely well-bowled overs.
- Francis Parker
