Cromwell, Blacks Hill and Queenstown Zephyr did likewise in the reserve section, while the remaining game between the high school sides, Queenstown Wakatipu and Dunstan High School, ended in a tie.
Cromwell scored 123 for nine wickets batting first at home but Maniototo could muster only 100 in reply.
In the game at Luggate, the home side batted first and got through to 107 all out with the in-form Lochie Weir top-scoring with 43. Bowling for the visitors, Brett Anderson (two for 18 off four overs) and Morgan Walker (two for 22 off four) were the pick of the bowlers.
The Queenstown Ballarat side made no race of the it, ending on 108 for four wickets off only 14.4 overs. Jack Gilbert led the chase with 47, and Sam Webber took two for 20.
Queenstown Wakatipu batted first and made 97 for the loss of nine wickets. This innings was highlighted by Dunstan High School bowler Conrad Hancock, who completed a hat-trick in his third over and finished with the excellent figures of five wickets for nine runs off his four overs.
A run out off the last ball while going for the winning runs ensured the match was tied. Nic O'Donnell-Fluit, with 29, and Ivan Hill (21) did their best to get the Dunstan side over the line but to no avail.
Albion batted first in the match against Cromwell and posted a meagre 68 off 15.5 overs, with Mike O'Connor31 not out. Mark Rushton, three for 11, and Hamish Wilkinson, three for 22, made the Albion batsmen work hard for their runs.
Cromwell, in reply, measured its chase well to get the winning runs with seven balls remaining, ending on 69 for the loss of four wickets.
Rushton completed a good day, ending on 43 not out. Jason Roberts took two for four off his three overs.
Molyneux made a fine 153 off its allotted 20 overs with Sasha Hill top-scoring with 41. Nitin Sharma, three for 15, and Morgan Keith, two for 24, were the best of the Queenstown Zephyr bowlers.
Step in Amrit Gossal who smashed 116 runs that allowed the Queenstown side to win in 13.2 overs for the loss of five wickets.
Next-best was Nitin Sharma with 11. Hill rounded out a good day with two wickets for 19 runs.
Blacks Hill scored a four-wicket win over neighbour Maniototo. It chased down Maniototo's total of 90 all out and finished on 91 for six.
Best for the Blacks Hill side was Brodie Flannery with 22.
Earlier, Jason Conroy, with three for 12, and George Fox, two for eight, kept the Blacks Hill side on top.
- by Malcolm Jones
