Kaikorai 205 for nine lost to Uni-Grange 208 for four
Stephen Markham helped University-Grange get the new year off to the best possible start.
The opening batsman scored an unbeaten century to guide the side to a six-wicket win over Kaikorai at Bishopscourt.
It was University-Grange’s first win of the season.
Kaikorai found itself in a hole at one for two and then 10 for three.
Predesh Soobramoney struck on the fourth ball and Ben Hatton added two wickets to dismiss three of Kaikorai’s top four for ducks.
Jordan Henderson chipped in with 21, although it was Scott Hunter who dug in to get Kaikorai back on track.
He managed 57 to hold up one end while partners came and went at the other.
They all made small contributions though, and a 29 not out from No 10 batsman Jeremy Smallbridge helped his team to 205 for nine.
Hatton, Soobramoney and Usman Shah all had two wickets each for University-Grange.
But it was to be Markham who was the star for the side.
He and Andrew Hore (38) put on 54 for the first wicket, before Markham pushed on.
He finished with 101 not out to steer University-Grange to victory, while several others reached the mid-teens at the other end.
Albion 236 for eight beat Green Island 111
The Albion bowling attack tore through Green Island to claim a convincing 125-run win at Tonga Park.
Angus McKenzie took three for 20, while Tommy Clout, Josh Tasman-Jones and Josh Cuttance all claimed two scalps to bowl Green Island out for 111.
McKenzie had been equally key with the bat.
He scored 61 and put on 131 runs in an important fifth-wicket partnership alongside Jamie Glenn (65).
Three quick wickets from Geordie Scott — who took three for 28 — had left Albion at 64 for four when the pair met at the crease.
They remained together until the 46th over, when Mark Joyce claimed McKenzie lbw with the score at 195 for five.
Glenn followed four balls later, but the foundation was set.
That paved the way for the Albion bowlers to take over.
McKenzie sent Brad Kneebone and Gregor Croudis back in consecutive balls in the sixth over and by the 10th Green Island was reeling at 35 for four.
That became 53 for six five overs later, and while Jack Mockford hit 36 to offer some resistance, it was far too much to come back from.
Carisbrook Dunedin 166 beat Taieri 110
Carisbrook Dunedin emerged victorious in a low-scoring affair at Tonga Park.
It handed Taieri just its second one-day loss of the season — although Taieri remains top of the table — by 56 runs.
Kurt Johnston and Patrick Arnold took three wickets each, while Ryan Sillars claimed two key early scalps to defend their 166 total.
Sillars also proved key with the bat, coming to the crease at 15 for two and scoring a resilient 37.
He held up one end before being dismissed by Marcus Frost — who took three for 30 — upon which Liam Ryan took over to score an equally solid 45.
Johnston and Sillars then took two early wickets each to leave Taieri at 40 for four.
Ben Lockrose scored 31 to show some fight for Taieri, but was bowled by Jack Pryde, before Arnold cleaned up the tail.
