The South Otago premier competition resumed with three emphatic results over the weekend.
The Owaka Bandits defeated the Kai Kings by 28 runs at the Outlaw Oval in Owaka.
Owaka was asked to bat first and recorded 148 for eight off its 40 overs.
The Bandits lost two early wickets, but opener Joel White batted well with the middle order to restore some calm.
White was dismissed shortly before drinks with the score at 54 for three.
Gordon Edwards (29) and Francis Parker (20) added some useful runs after the break before being dismissed in quick succession.
The tail wagged thanks to an unbeaten 30 by Nathan White.
Kai’s bowlers were effective for the most part and restricted runs well, especially early.
Kings captain Mark Shepherd (two for 14) and Lilly Paterson (two for 36) were the leading wicket-takers for Kai.
Joel White top-scored for Owaka with 42.
The Kings made a cautious beginning to their reply.
The openers nudged singles and contributed to a 30-run partnership before both were dismissed within two overs.
Veterans Pat McKenna and Mark Shepherd threatened to take the game away from Owaka before drinks.
An outstanding spell of bowling after drinks from Jacob Beal-Harris removed both and left the door open for the home side.
Bandits captain Parker then cleaned up the Kings tail with career-best figures of five for 17 off seven overs to give his side the win with an over to spare.
McKenna (31) and Shepherd (23) top-scored for the Kings.
The Lawrence Lions beat the Clutha Comets by 10 wickets at the Cosmic Bullring in Balclutha to notch their first win of the 40-over competition.
Clutha was asked to bat first and was bowled out for just 51 inside 18 overs.
Lawrence opening bowler Jase Horsman took seven wickets for 30 runs off his eight overs.
Clutha’s batting crumbled.
Extras top-scored for the Comets with 17.
Michael Hayes was the only Comets batsman to reach double figures, with 10 runs at the death.
In reply, the Lions took six overs to reach the total after some aggressive hitting from Mitch Pryde and first-drop Matt Whaanga.
Pryde struck three fours and two sixes on his way to 27 not out.
Whaanga was equally as impressive with four fours and a six in his unbeaten knock of 24.
The Waihola Swans remained unbeaten in the 40-over competition with an eight-wicket win over the Valley Stingers at the Crab Grounds in Milton.
The Stingers batted first and made 134 all out in the 38th over.
Valley opener Bevan McCall top-scored with 74 and Daniel Cragg was next highest with 17.
The wickets were shared around the Swans attack with Jamie Morton, Craig Gordon and Taylor Moeahu all taking two.
In reply, the Swans chased the total down in the 31st over for the loss of two wickets, giving them another bonus point and their third win in a row.
Opening batsmen Brad Williams (34) and Jason Hill (26) gave them a promising start.
Caleb Mitchell scored 41 not out to steer his side to victory.
Luis Smales (one for 20) and Ollie Badcock (one for 25) took Valley’s only scalps.
- Francis Parker
