Queenstown Ballarat, Queenstown Wakatipu and Cromwell all got off to winning starts in the Vincent Senior Koford Cup competition on Saturday and Cromwell was victorious in the Senior Reserve Partridge Cup competition.
Cromwell came away with a good first up win after accounting for Maniototo at Ranfurly. The home side, batting first, got through to 231 for nine thanks mainly to an incredible knock of 147 from number five batsman Dion Gibbons who came to the wicket at 44 for four and was the last batsman dismissed. His innings lasted for 114 balls and included six fours and an incredible 16 sixes. He was helped out by Richard Hollows who smashed 30 runs off 15 balls (two fours and three sixes). Together they added 58 runs for the sixth wicket, off just 35 balls. SS Singh, with three for 43, was the most successful of the bowlers. Cromwell made short work of the target, reaching 232 for two in 32.1 overs after a 102-run opening partnership between Mandeep Dhaliwal (42) and captain Sam Pimm, who was 112 not out off 96 balls (eight fours and eight sixes). Pimm added 120 runs for the third wicket with Amrit Gossal (52) to secure the win.
The home side Albion batted first at Luggate against defending champion Queenstown Ballarat and was bundled out for a paltry 51 in 19.1 overs. Extras (14) was the highest score and none of the batsmen reached double figures. Kevin Loggenberg (three for 13) and Bailey Andrews-Kennedy (four for 15) caused most of the damage. It took the visitor 11.1 overs to wrap up a very comfortable eight-wicket win. Andrews-Kennedy top scored with 16.
Queenstown Wakatipu won the toss, and invited last season's runner-up, Blacks Hill, to bat at the Events Centre and restricted it to 157 for seven off 36 overs. Opener Alex Gibson top-scored with 40 while Cam Nicolson, Dave Lilley and Dave Reinds all reached 19. Regan McIntyre took two for 20 of his eight overs. The young Wakatipu side reached the target of 158 for eight wickets, after 37.5 overs, in a tight battle. Reece Collin (47) and Jordan Gibbons (41) both batted well to put their team in a winning position. Tim McCormick, with two for 19 off eight tidy overs, was the pick of the Blacks Hill bowlers.
- Malcolm Jones
