Two exciting games were played on Friday night — Union beating Albion by four wickets and Oamaru beating Valley by three runs — as both North Otago T20 contests were decided in the 20th over.
At King George Park, Albion reached 128 for six in their 20 overs.
Sabareesh Ramesh provided some early momentum, top-scoring with 59 and combining with Aneesh Bose (22) to put on 52 for the fourth wicket and lift Albion to a competitive total.
For Union, Harry Mavor claimed two for 17 from four overs and Blake Martin took two for 28 from his four.
Union’s chase was led by Mavor (35) and Thomas Shields (31), before veteran Brad Fleming (31 not out off 19 balls) provided the final push, guiding Union to 129 for six and victory with three balls remaining in the innings.
Joshua Miller took two for 21 for Albion and Amal Asok had two for 26.
At Weston, Oamaru endured a rocky start after batting first, slumping to 44 for four in the seventh over.
Nicholas Johnston (28 not out), Ricky Atwal (28) and Quinn Wardle (31 not out) engineered a middle-order recovery, steering Oamaru to 136 for five from their 20 overs.
Taine Stirling was lethal early for Valley, claiming three for 27 from his four overs.
Valley’s chase featured wickets falling in clumps, but Jack Kelly took to the Oamaru attack with authority, his 58 runs coming from just 34 balls to keep Valley in the hunt. Campbell Fowler also contributed with 20.
However, with Kelly’s dismissal at 93 for four, Oamaru began to make serious inroads into the Valley order.
Valley managed to inch the score to 128 for nine at the completion of the 19th over, needing nine runs from the final over.
Johnston bowled the final over, his first ball being a wide before the second conceded four runs. But the third delivery took Valley’s last wicket, securing a dramatic three-run victory for Oamaru.
For Oamaru, Asanka Gamlathge took four for 26 and Wardle three for 13.
Club cricket in North Otago now takes a break, returning on the second Friday in January.
— Scott Cameron
