Unbeaten Union and second-placed Oamaru played out a hard-fought contest with the Payne Tempero Cup on the line in the latest round of the North Otago club competition.
Oamaru batted first at King George Park and made 148 in 44 overs, with only Lachlan Curle making a significant contribution. Liam Mavor took three for 37 and Blake James three for 29.
Union started well at 46 for one before collapsing to 66 for six. Wickets continued to fall and they slumped to 95 for nine. Ben Mavor and Antony Cromwell then combined for a 40-run last-wicket stand to make it a nervous finish, before Mavor was dismissed for 28. That left Union all out for 135 in the 37th over and gave the win to Oamaru by 13 runs. Blake Martin had earlier scored 27.
Hunter Wardle took an exceptional five for 15, Asanka Gamlathge had two for 34 and Stephan Grobler two for 43.
At St Kevin’s, Glenavy scraped home by five runs, defending 140. St Kevin’s slumped to 37 for four in the 10th over, before Ben Gillies (46) and Jacob Fowler (31) added 67 for the fifth wicket.
When Fowler fell at 104, Glenavy fought back. St Kevin’s fell agonizingly short, losing their last wicket on 135 in the 32nd over with five runs still needed.
Harry Murphy took three for 33, Jordan Mulligan three for 47 and Zach Graham two for 13 for Glenavy.
Earlier, Glenavy were bowled out for 140 in 41 overs. Harry Murphy scored 22 and Dean Malcolm 36. Fowler took four for 32 and Flynn Sanford two for 21.
Albion crushed Waitaki Boys’ by 213 runs at Milner Park.
Albion were dismissed for 271 in the 47th over. Saberesh Ramesh top-scored with 83, Amal Asok made 69 and Tom Squire 50. At 242 for four in the 42nd over, Albion looked set for 300-plus before Waitaki fought back. Declan McSkimming took three for 61, Eric Strachan two for 27 and Harry Mavor two for 38.
Waitaki were then rolled for just 58. Hayden Creedy took outstanding figures of six for nine from 5.1 overs, while Aneesh Bose claimed two for nine from six overs and Tom Squire two for 35.
— Scott Cameron
