Two teams remain unbeaten after six rounds of the South Otago premier 40-over competition.
The Waihola Swans and the Owaka Bandits won their respective matches on Saturday to set up a thrilling Waitangi weekend doubleheader in which the two sides will clash twice in three days.
Waihola travelled to Kaitangata and beat the Kings by six wickets in a professional display.
The Swans asked Kai to bat, and the home side were dismissed for 123 all out in the 36th over.
William Casey (16) and Mark Shepherd (15) were Kai’s best.
Some key top-order wickets from Dylan Bungard (two for 29) and Jared Cunningham (two for 18) restricted runs early before the destroyer Ashley Manson mopped up the tail with impressive figures of four for 19 off 6.2 overs.
Swans skipper Dylan Bungard continued his fantastic season with 48 runs as he anchored the Swans’ chase, and Waihola reached the total well inside bonus-point territory.
The Owaka Bandits produced another solid performance, beating the Clutha Comets by nine wickets in Balclutha.
Clutha elected to bat and recorded 139 in 37 overs.
With both openers back in the sheds inside two overs, the Comets rallied through Michael Hayes and Kelan Smith, but once Hayes was removed for 28, Clutha lost regular wickets.
Comets skipper Smith was the bright light of the innings, scoring 52, while Jeremy Gray and Francis Parker each took three wickets for the visitors.
In reply, Owaka openers Gray and Gordon Edwards put on 110 for the opening wicket.
Edwards was dismissed for 28 before Gray (72 not out) and Jethro Melville (22 not out) finished the job shortly after drinks.
The Milton King Crabs kept in touch with the leaders after dismantling the Valley Stingers by 10 wickets in Milton.
Valley could not find any batting form against a strong Milton bowling attack and were bowled out for 108 runs in the 37th over.
Raj Singh was the pick of the Valley batters with 20.
Dan Samson took two early wickets for Milton and finished with three for 31 off eight overs.
In reply, Milton opening batter Jacob Jenkins was in no mood to muck around.
He blasted Valley’s bowlers to all parts as Milton chased the total down in just the 12th over without losing a wicket.
Jenkins finished unbeaten on 91, including 15 fours and three sixes.
By Francis Parker
