Runs were in short supply this weekend but Green Island was able to eke out nearly 200 batting first against Taieri.
Ground conditions across all three venues did not offer much value for shots and Memorial Park proved no exception.
Rotating the strike was an issue but veteran all-rounder Mark Joyce top-scored with 41 during an 80-minute stay at the crease.
Opener Greg Croudis (30) and Brad Wilson (28) put on 54 for the second wicket after the early departure of Scott Simpson (1).
All-rounder Christie Viljoen (23) and Joel Meade (26) chipped in, and experienced left-arm seamer Bradley Scott smashed two sixes in a rapid 22-run cameo towards the end of the innings to help Green Island reach 194 for nine.
Left-arm spinner Ben Lockrose was the most successful of the Taieri bowlers with three for 35.
Otago pace bowler Warren Barnes was off a short run-up and bowled only four overs.
But he picked up the wicket of Simpson, while provincial team-mate Jack Hunter produced a solid performance with one for 34 from 10 overs.
The total was challenging in the conditions and Taieri was unable to assert any pressure on Green Island.
It was dismissed for a lowly 81.
Medium pacer Sanchit Sandhu, who has moved to Dunedin from Queenstown this year, shone with three for 21.
But left-arm quick Blair Soper found some good rhythm as well with two for 18 from 10 overs.
North East Valley 109 lost to
Kaikorai 111 for five by five wickets
Kaikorai has opened its account with a five-wicket win against North East Valley at Bayfield Park.
The defending champion was not left with much to chase after running through Valley’s batting line-up during the round-three match.
Valley could muster just 109 and had Ruan Markram to thank for a large chunk of that.
The No6 batsman resisted with 45 not out.
Derek de Boorder and extras were the next biggest contributors with 15 apiece.
The disappointment set in early with Otago top-order batsman Neil Broom carving a catch to point in the third over.
Volts wicketkeeper Derek de Boorder put his head down and occupied the crease for more than 20 overs.
But his vigil came to an end on 15 shortly after drinks.
Spinner Josh Finnie came in and mopped up the tail with three for 26.
But it was Jacob Duffy (two for 15) and Jack Nuttall (two for 27) who took care of most of the top order.
Kaikorai got on with the chase, overhauling the total in the 24th over.
Opener Dan Sharples clobbered 27 from 18 and Rhys Bayly kept up the momentum with 32 from 37.
Jamie Murley and Sam McLaughlan snaffled two wickets apiece.
Albion 135 lost to Carisbrook-Dunedin
136 for four by six wickets
Albion tasted its first defeat this season — a fate it might have been able to avoid had it strung together a few more partnerships.
The team boldly elected to bat first and soon discovered the outfield played like a handbrake.
The quick dismissals of Teja Nidamanuru (2) and Sam Wells (0) did not help either.
Kurt Johnston secured the double breakthrough and finished with three for 17.
Opener Taylor Cumberland (17) gutsed it out for the best part of 17 overs before he was bowled by Steven Newey.
After the side slumped to 56 for three, Josh Tasman-Jones (13) and Jack Harper (51) led the recovery.
But Harper miscalculated, calling Tasman-Jones through for a quick single.
The latter was run out, leaving Albion teetering at 83 for four.
Harper responded with a couple of lusty blows but his departure helped hasten the end of the innings.
Albion’s total of 135 was a little more challenging that it appeared on paper, with Carisbrook-Dunedin taking 44 overs to reach the target with six wickets in hand.
Albion’s Dexter Marsh bowled well and picked up three key wickets.
But Sean Eathorne (41), who was dropped three or four times, combined with Anjas Bhogal (42) in a 71-run stand for the third wicket.
Had Albion been able to hold on to the catches Eathorne offered, the finish might have been a lot closer.
