Uni-Grange 263/5 dec drew with Caris-Dn 191/5
The declaration form of the game is supposed to encourage longer stays at the crease for the batsmen and get bowlers to get in some lengthy spells.
That was not how it turned out in two of the three games on Saturday but University Grange and Carisbrook Dunedin fought out an even battle at Tonga Park.
University Grange batted first and after an encouraging opening partnership of 65, the side got through to 263 for five off its 60 overs.
Jacob Cumming made 57 while Venkat Kotte was unbeaten on 87. Kurt Johnston took two wickets in a lengthy spell at the bowling crease.
Carisbrook Dunedin never really got going in reply as there were plenty of starts but no batsmen went on with the job.
When Predash Soobramoney took his fifth wicket, University Grange had seven balls left to take the final wicket. But it could not get it and the home side hung on to secure a draw.
Taieri 44 lost to NEV 46 for none
At home at Brooklands, Taieri had a shocker and the match did not last much into the afternoon.
Taieri made just 44 with the bat being dismissed at the start of the 24th over.
With plenty of sunshine in the past couple of weeks, it was expected the pitch would be flat. But North East Valley opening bowler Corey Perrett found plenty in it to like.
He took seven wickets from just over 11 overs and was too good for the Taieri line-up.
Only one Taieri batsman made double figures. Perrett bowled four of his victims, displaying the good line he delivered.
The visiting team had no trouble knocking off the target, winning the match in the ninth over.
These two sides are near the top of the table so it was a good victory for North East Valley to record.
Kaikorai 43 lost to Albion 44 for two
In another low-scoring encounter, Kaikorai batted poorly to gift the game to Albion at Tonga Park.
Josh Bates scored more than half of his side’s runs and although that can sometimes be something to crow about, in scoring just 22, Bates showed how poorly Kaikorai used its time at the batting crease.
There were four ducks in its innings and Bates was the only player to make double figures.
Former Otago all-rounder Sam Wells rolled back the years and took five wickets. He bowled nearly eight overs and conceded only six runs. He took three wickets in his final over.
Josh Tasman-Jones also picked up a couple of wickets while Josh Cuttance helped himself to the other three wickets.
In reply, Albion knocked off the target in the 11th over, with the loss of a couple of wickets.
