beat Carisbrook-Dunedin 247
A swashbuckling century from Otago all-rounder Shawn Hicks helped Albion overpower Carisbrook-Dunedin by 102-runs at Culling Park on Saturday.
The classy right-hander bludgeoned 112 from just 52 deliveries in a brutal assault on the bowling. He swatted nine sixes and six fours in about an hour at the crease.
The 22-year-old had the perfect platform from which to launch, though. Openers Josh Tasman-Jones (93) and Taylor Cumberland (77) put on 157 for the first wicket. That allowed Hicks to play with freedom and really get after the ball. He was eventually undone in the penultimate over. But Black Caps and Otago left-armer Neil Wagner helped keep the momentum going. His cameo of 34 not out from 18 deliveries enabled Albion to reach an imposing 349 for five.
It was not a day Richard Sillars will remember fondly. The Carisbrook-Dunedin strike bowler took one for 98 from 10 overs, while former Otago legspinner Rhys Phillips struggled as well with one for 83.
Nathan Smith was tidy with none for 32 from 10 overs, though.
Camden Hawkins did his part with the bat. The opener top-scored with a massive 156 from 136 deliveries. Against an attack which included Matt Bacon, Hicks and former international spinner Mark Craig, it was a fine innings.
But he was forced to play a lone hand with only two of his team-mates reaching double figures.
Hawkins was the last man out in the 43rd over, having dragged his side through to a respectable 247.
Daniel Duke grabbed five wickets but also got clobbered, going for 73 runs. Wagner did not bowl but Craig took one for 17 from seven tight overs.
Kaikorai 129
lost to North East Valley 131 for four
North East Valley wasted precious little time knocking off a paltry target of 130 to dispatch Kaikorai at Kensington Oval.
Otago batsman Neil Broom smashed 53 from 29 and Hunter Kindley hit 30 from 19 to help secure a one-sided victory in just the 13th over.
Earlier, Otago pace bowler Michael Rae had done the damage with four for 31 to help dismiss Kaikorai for a measly 129.
Fellow opening bowler Matthew Fisher took three for 53, and Jamie Murley helped pry out the tail with two for 37.
Kaikorai would never have reached triple figures had it not been for a cracking 52-run stand for the last wicket between Ryan Whelan (40) and Scott Hunter (nine not out).
Otago legspinner Michael Rippon scored 30 in the middle of the order but it is hard to recover when your side slumps to 42 for five.
Kaikorai used just two bowlers in its defence and both went for runs. Jacob Duffy took one for 53 from 6.3 overs, while Whelan took three wickets but hemorrhaged runs, coughing up 77 runs from six overs.
Taieri 148
lost to Green Island 149 for four
Green Island rolled Taieri for a below-par 148 and cruised to a comfortable victory at Brooklands Park.
Taieri crashed to 19 for four before it was able to mount much resistance. Cameron McAuslan (30) and Jack Hunter (31) staged a recovery of sorts, and then Ben Lockrose chipped in with 27. But no-one else was able to make a significant contribution.
Taieri battled, though, using up most of the 50 overs.
Otago all-rounder Christi Viljoen was handful with three for 26 from nine overs. Geordie Scott and Mark Joyce picked up two wickets apiece, while left-arm pace bowler Blair Soper was tidy with one for 22 from nine overs.
And the veteran, Dion Lobb, added another wicket to his career total. The 37-year-old medium-pacer picked up his 800th senior wicket last weekend and produced another strong performance with one for 29 from 10 overs.
All and all, it was just a really efficient bowling display from the defending champion.
The chase proved relatively easy with Otago opener Brad Wilson posting 67 and Scott making 45 not out.
Spinner Lockrose was probably the pick of the Taieri bowlers with one for 18 from six overs, while Otago paceman Warren Barnes was expensive. He took one for 60 from 7.1 overs.
