Hunter Growcott and Toby Walton scampered through for two to secure the win for the school team with only seven balls remaining.
Jack Kelly (56) had earlier steadied the St Kevin’s innings as others fell around him, until he was dismissed by an exceptional one-handed catch by Thomas Shields.
St Kevin’s, chasing 166 to win, was 98 for four when the experienced Craig Smith walked to the crease.
He was soon joined by Jacob Fowler, and the pair moved the total to 142 for six before Smith (31) was dismissed.
As St Kevin’s started inching closer, two further wickets fell — Fowler (23) the eighth wicket, to set up the close finish.
Brad Fleming took three for 30 for Union, supported by Garry Singh (two for 25) and Mason James (two for 19).
Union had won the toss and batted, and twins Jeremiah (15) and Thomas (17) Shields put on 26 before Jeremiah was caught by Sam McCarthy off the bowling of Liam Direen.
Direen followed up with a wicket the next ball, before Thomas was joined by Blake James, the pair putting on 45 for the third wicket.
Union had plenty of wickets left, and with a strong batting order, it looked as if a score of 200-plus was a possibility.
Enter the St Kevin’s spinners.
Kelly (four for 42) and Campbell Fowler (one for 30) tightened the scoring as Union struggled to hit out, reduced to 165 for nine in its 50 overs.
James was the seventh wicket out, reaching 45, while Direen finished with three for 25.
It was a second Borton Cup victory for St Kevin’s since first joining the North Otago senior competition in 1937-38.
St Kevin’s won the cup for the first time in 1998-99 with a team that included a schoolboy Smith.
In the lower grades, Oamaru won the Club30 final, while St Kevin’s won the YouthBlast final.
— Scott Cameron
