The start of Dunedin's senior declaration round provided two instances of individual brilliance.
Hamish Rutherford scored 136 at better than a run a ball in Green Island's big win against Carisbrook Dunedin.
Nathan Manu produced what should turn out to be the bowling figures of the season as he destroyed University Grange's innings, and set up a six-wicket victory for North East Valley.
His eight wickets for 16 runs from 14 overs, including seven maidens, overshadowed his new-ball partner Jamie Murley's seven wickets from last week.
The Albion-Kaikorai match was abandoned due to rain.
Green Island 251/5dec beat
Carisbrook Dunedin 149 at Sunnyvale
Hamish Rutherford, the left-handed Otago Volt, smashed 10 sixes on his way to a brutal 136 off 131 balls.
Rutherford was particularly punishing against the Carisbrook spinners, but fell to a lively spell from Dan Willemsen (two for five off two), who took two key wickets and managed to have two other catches dropped behind the wicket in just two overs.
Mark Joyce (39) and a scratchy Jordan Sheed (30) chipped in to get Green Island to 251 before declaring in the 48th over.
Carisbrook Dunedin had 62 overs to get the runs, but again lost early wickets.
Brad Rodden (39) and Tony McIntyre (20) shared the only substantial partnership (56) of the innings for the 3rd wicket.
The Carisbrook Dunedin batters were again guilty of not valuing their wickets enough.
Mark Joyce (four for 35 from 11) was the pick of the Green Island bowlers in a comprehensive victory.
University-Grange 61 lost to
North East Valley 62/4 at Logan Park
For the second week in a row, North East Valley's bowlers managed to restrict their opposition to a total less than 100.
This time it was Nathan Manu (eight for 16 off 14) taking all the pats on the back.
His outstanding figures were aided by a pitch that had long green grass and a very soft stop and was described as disappointing.
Manu inflicted four ducks on the Grange side as it was rolled over for a paltry 62.
Adam Coleman (12) and James Fuller (15) were the only batters to make it into double figures, as Jamie Murley (one for 24 off nine) and Florian Schmidt (one for 16 off 10) operated rather effectively as well.
Valley only had one batsman enter double figures, with Coel Mahoney (15no) getting the job done after Grange had taken four wickets in the space of 10 runs.
James McMillan (two for 11 from 6.1) and Anthony Bullick (one for 13 from 5) bowled well, but Grange just did not have enough runs to defend.
- James Welch
