Albion batted first at Luggate against Cromwell and got through to 212. Ryan Wheeler top-scored with 79 and Josh Roberts added 22. Mark Knox was the pick of the visiting bowlers, with three for 21, while Apo Stephen backed Knox up well, taking two for 38 off his allotted overs.
Knox top-scored in the Cromwell reply with 36 and Andy Ritchie made 30 but their efforts were not supported and the Cromwell side ended 52 runs shy of victory, dismissed for 161.
The Cromwell demise was largely caused by Seb Arratia, who took an impressive six wickets for just 38 runs.
Queenstown Wakatipu made the long trek to the picturesque Oturehua Domain, to take on the home side Maniototo and went home with a hard-fought win. The visitors batted first and compiled 200 all out off 39.1 overs. Seth Mawhinney led the way with 39 and Ben MacDonald added 22 not out, batting at No10. Their tally was boosted by 37 extras.
Reuben Pyle took three for 10 off eight overs, three being maidens, in an impressive display, backed up by Jaco Pieterse with three for 29.
Digby Gibbons and Sam Pollock got the chase under way in positive fashion with the opening partnership of 40 off just 5.2 overs.
The home side should really have had the game in the bag at 176 for six wickets, but after a concerted fight, the visiting side dismissed Maniototo for 191. Seth Mawhinney, with two for 28, and Cam Ryall, two for 32, were the main wicket takers but all the bowlers deserve credit. Pollock (26), Gibbons (24), Willie Miller (38) and Karl McDiarmid (37) scored the bulk of the runs.
Blacks Hill hosted the Queenstown Ballarat side and recorded a one-wicket win. The Ballarat side batted first and made 180 for seven wickets. Captain Kevin Loggenberg top-scored with a well-compiled 60 not out. Alex Coates scored 35 and veteran Fraser Wilson chipped in with 27 not out. Bowling for the home side, Barry White took two for 25, Luke Duncan two for 29 and Tim McCormick two for 40. The home side lost regular wickets through its innings as Charanjit Singh (49) and Dave Reinds (37) did their best to get the side home.
But it was left to Andy Singh and Angus Dykes, both with four not out, batting at Nos10 and 11 respectively, to get the home side across the line. Adam Hubber, three for 42, and Alex Coates, three for 48, were the best of the bowlers.
- Malcolm Jones
