Union and Glenavy secured comfortable victories while Valley claimed a thrilling one-wicket win in round seven Borton Cup matches on Saturday.
At the Outer Oval, Albion were bowled out for 94 in 17.5 overs. Joshua Miller top-scored with 28, while Jacob Davies struck 21.
Blake Martin led Union’s bowling attack with four for 31 from 5.5 overs, while Brad Fleming claimed three for 18 from five overs and Liam Mavor took two for 26.
In reply, Union reached the target for the loss of four wickets with Thomas Anderson’s unbeaten 53 guiding them home.
At Glenavy, Harry Murphy dominated proceedings with both bat and ball.
In the chase of 150 against Waitaki Boys’, Murphy made 101 before being dismissed with the score on 143 and just seven runs needed. Glenavy completed the victory five wickets down in the 24th over.
Earlier, Archie Haywood (43) and Cash Paterson (48) had steered Waitaki Boys’ to 149 all out in the 33rd over. Murphy took five for 45 with Hamish McCulloch claiming two for 29 and Sehu Nijam two for 11.
The day’s most dramatic finish came at Weston, where Valley staged a remarkable recovery against St Kevin’s.
Slumping to 85 for eight, still 55 runs short of their 140-run target, Valley appeared destined for defeat.
However, Jack Cameron (22 not out) and George Mavor (12) combined for a 23-run ninth-wicket partnership. Cameron then partnered with Taine Stirling (15 not out) to add 35 for the final wicket, securing victory by the narrowest possible margin.
Campbell Fowler had earlier contributed 23 in Valley’s chase, while Flynn Sanford was the pick of the St Kevin’s bowlers with five for 29. Tai McLean and Ellijah Fariu each claimed two for 35.
St Kevin’s had batted first, posting 139 all out in the 35th over. After Ethan Friend (48) and Hamish Fowler (29) built a solid platform at 77 for one, they collapsed dramatically, losing nine wickets for just 62 runs.
Campbell Fowler took three for 13 and Jack Price two for 11 for Valley.
— Scott Cameron
