233 for seven by three wickets
Green Island’s hard-fought three-wicket win against North East Valley at Logan Park on Saturday has seen it open up an unassailable lead at the top of the Bing Harris standings.
It will be the club’s ninth senior title since 2000 and first since 2013-14.
Russell Ritchie led the effort with the ball, picking up four wickets for 26 runs to help dismiss North East Valley for a competitive 230. Veteran all-rounder Mark Joyce had good success with his off-spinners. He nabbed three for 32 from 10 overs.
Valley lost two early wickets but Tom Griffin counterattacked with 65 from 58 deliveries. He had good support from Ruan Markram (32). When they perished, Jamie Murley picked up the bulk of the slack, clipping 41 from 31 balls.
With the help of 33 extras, Valley got past 200. But Green Island made a solid start through Gregor Croudis. He hit a six and 10 fours in an aggressive knock of 65 from 70 deliveries.
Ant Harris also made a significant contribution with 55 from 71.
Sam McLachlan was the most successful of the North East Valley bowlers with three for 28.
Albion 217 beat Carisbrook-Dunedin
134 by 83 runs
Albion continued its resurgence with a comfortable win against Carisbrook-Dunedin at Tonga Park.
It helps when an international opens the bowling. Black Caps left-armer Neil Wagner took the new ball for Albion and snared three for 29 from eight overs.
Spinner Teja Nidamanuru was also instrumental, with three quick wickets, to help dismiss Carisbrook-Dunedin for 134.
But it was Wagner who made the biggest impact, picking up all three wickets in his opening stint. The South African-born player has been recovering from a fractured finger and has been a welcome addition to the Albion side during the past two weeks.
But it was his last game of club cricket for the season. He has been named in the New Zealand squad for the three-game test series against South Africa which gets under way in Dunedin on Wednesday. Albion made first use of the wicket and was immediately in trouble at six for two. Jack Harper (19) and Josh Tasman-Jones (30) added 41 for the third wicket, and Harrison Durkin (32) and Jamie Hunt (46) gave the innings substance.
Dexter Marsh blasted 21 not out from 20 balls to help Albion post 217. Kurt Johnston was the pick of the Carisbrook-Dunedin bowlers with two for 31 from 10 overs.
Kaikorai 248
beat Taieri 202
All-rounder Geordie Scott dragged Kaikorai from its form slump with a dashing century to help set up a 46-run win against Taieri at Brooklands Park.
Scott smashed 102 from 66 deliveries and did not do a lot of running with 82 of his runs coming in either sixes of fours.It was a brutal and brief onslaught. He got out with 22 overs still remaining and Kaikorai looked like it might struggle to put a decent total together.
But James Hartshorn (26) and George Inwood (35) added 56 for the final wicket to get Kaikorai through to 248.
Marcus Frost did his part for Taieri with five for 34 from 10 overs, and Otago paceman Warren Barnes took one for 21 from five overs.
Taieri stayed in the hunt without really putting together a meaningful partnership. Opener Cameron McAuslin scored 32 from 41. No 6 batsman Jarrod Casey made an undefeated 53 from 57 and Shea Evans scored 37 from 27 at No 10.
Medium pacer Michael Fraser ripped out the lower order with five for 34, while strike Ryan Whelan bowled well at the top with three for 32.
