The Owaka Bandits retained the Challenge Cup and their unbeaten 40-over streak with a hard-fought four-wicket win over the Milton King Crabs in Owaka on Saturday.
Milton were asked to bat and were in trouble early, but a key partnership between opener Corey Bradley and Bradley Frost steadied the ship.
Frost brought up a well-deserved half-century before being dismissed for a nicely hit 53.
The dismissal of Bradley for 44 started the decline of the Milton innings. The Bandits bowlers bowled a niggly length that was hard to get away, captain Hayden Sheppard ending the innings with a fantastic spell.
In reply, some miserly opening bowling by Milton restricted Owaka to just 18 runs after 10 overs. Top-order batters Gordon Edwards and Jethro Melville then began finding the boundary before two crucial bits of fielding by Dylan Greer then turned the match.
He threw down the stumps from the boundary to get rid of the dangerous Edwards (59), who had just brought up his second consecutive half-century.
Greer then threw down the stumps to remove Jamie Shaw, who was looking dangerous as well.
Owaka required 43 runs from the final seven overs when Reece Pullar demonstrated his power-hitting ability with four sixes to bring the home side back into the match. Pullar and skipper Hayden Sheppard combined nicely at the death and got the Bandits home with two overs to spare.
The Kaitangata Kings picked up their first win when beating the Valley Stingers by 156 runs at the Wasp Nest.
Kaitangata, who won the toss, finished their innings on a spectacular 292 for the loss of six wickets.
A match-defining third-wicket partnership of 102 between William Casey and Mark Shepherd pushed the Kings over 200.
Shepherd was dismissed for 42 as Casey continued to impress. Valley took some wickets towards the end of the innings, including Casey’s for a nicely hit 88.
Valley’s bowlers were expensive, and 38 extras did not help.
In reply, Valley was bowled out for 136 runs.
A decent opening stand of 32 between Alex Campbell and Daniel Cragg set a platform but, once it was broken, Valley’s middle to lower order collapsed without much resistance.
Some determined batting at the end of the innings by Chris Moffitt (18 not out) and Alex Burleigh (36) ensured Valley were not embarrassed.
The Waihola Swans thrashed the Clutha Comets by 240 runs in Milton.
Waihola batted first and, thanks to a majestic unbeaten 155 by skipper Dylan Bungard, they put on a 315 for three off their 40 overs.
Bungard carried his bat.
In reply, a five-wicket haul from pace bowler Jared Hayes helped restrict Clutha to just 75 as they were bowled out in the 21st over of their innings.
By Francis Parker
