Otago new ball bowler Jacob Duffy turned out for Kaikorai in the weekend and claimed four wickets to help set up a comprehensive eight-wicket win against Albion.
Albion 110 lost to Kaikorai 111 for two by eight wickets
Duffy took four for 23 from his allotment of 10 overs, which included four maidens. Left-arm spinner Hamish Robertson also claimed four for 25 to help dismiss Albion for a paltry 110 at Bishopscourt.
The Eagles slumped to 52 for five but did threaten for a period with Mark Craig (21) and Mark Somerville putting on 48 for the sixth wicket.
But Duffy's return to the bowling crease swung the game back in Kaikorai's favour. He bowled a superb line and length and picked up three quick wickets, bowling Somerville, Craig and Josh Cuttance.
Albion had crashed from 100 for five to 105 for eight and that was the game, really.
Kaikorai's Rhys Bayly cracked 54 not out from 53 balls in his best effort of the summer. He played several delightful drives and combined with Dan Sharples (30) in a stand of 61 for the second wicket.
Kaikorai overhauled the target in just 19 overs and enjoys a handy 29-point lead at the top of the Bing Harris standings with two games remaining.
Taieri 124 lost to Green Island 128 for one by nine wickets
Everything pretty much went to plan for Green Island, as the Swamp Rats overpowered Taieri at Sunnyvale to win by nine wickets.
Its experienced seam attack of Dion Lobb, Christi Viljoen and Bradley Scott took two wickets apiece to knock the top off the batting and then veteran all-rounder Mark Joyce came in and mopped up the tail with four for 33.
Opener Cameron McAuslan did his part for Taieri with a dogged 43 from 85 deliveries before he was caught and bowled by Scott, and keeper Gus Wood dug in for 24 from 50 deliveries.
No-one else was able to make an impact with the bat and Taieri's modest innings of 124 was nowhere near a defendable total.
Otago opener Brad Wilson batted at No3 for Green Island and top-scored with an undefeated 63 from 62 deliveries. He has been Otago's most prolific first-class batsman this season.
Opener Nathan Watt whacked an undefeated 57 from 50 deliveries to help his side eclipse the target in the 20th over. The pair combined in an unbroken stand of 123 runs.
Regan Flaws was the only successful Taieri bowler. He removed opener Scott Simpson and finished with one for 30 from five overs.
North East Valley 176 lost to Caris-Dn 180 for five by five wickets
North East Valley beefed up its line-up with the inclusion of four regular Otago players.
But it was the ring-in from Carisbrook-Dunedin who had the biggest impact on the match. Otago top-order batsman Michael Bracewell clubbed an unbeaten 132 to help his club side overhaul Valley's total of 176.
The boundaries and balls faced were not available online but, rest assured, Bracewell thumped the ball to all parts and basically powered Carisbrook to victory single-handedly, in just 29 overs.
Opener Brad Horne and Kane McKay both scored 10 runs apiece, Max Chu chipped in with seven not out and two others contributed seven between them.
Bracewell earned bragging rights over Otago team-mates Anaru Kitchen, Neil Broom, Jimmy Neesham and Derek de Boorder, who all fronted for Valley.
Valley batted first and Kitchen (21) and Broom (19) opened. They both got starts but could not go on. Neesham top-scored for Valley with 38 and Jamie Murley (22) and Chris Beck (20) added useful runs.
Steven Newey (four for 59) and Chris Ware (two for 28) did a good job with the new ball and Bracewell got among the wickets as well, taking two for 32, including the wicket of the dangerous Neesham.
