The South Otago season started in less-than-ideal conditions at the weekend, with only one match producing a result.
Owaka Bandits, the defending 40-over champions, beat the Valley Stingers by 10 wickets courtesy of the DLS method.
Valley elected to bat in the hope they could get a score on the board before the inclement weather found its way to the coastal plains of Owaka.
A reasonable stand of 20 between openers Tharaka Herath and Alex Campbell set the standard.
Herath looked to punish anything wide before being trapped in front by the bowling of Bandits skipper Quentin Gare.
Gare also claimed the key wicket of Valley captain Lachlan Johnston in the same over.
There was a brief intermission as the heavens opened, with Valley in a spot of bother at 21 for three, but the teams returned to a sunny afternoon.
Bowling in tandem, Jeremy Gray and Francis Parker bowled tight lines and took some key wickets.
Owaka’s fielding in the conditions was also commendable, with Stuart Kelly’s run out of danger man Bevan McCall a highlight.
Some late hitting from Marc Phillips helped Valley to 69 all out in the 18th over.
Gare returned solid figures of three for eight off 3.1 overs.
In reply, Owaka opener Gray made his intentions clear with a six off the first ball of the innings from the bowling of Marc Phillips.
Gray and Gordon Edwards had taken the score to 23 without loss when the rain again pelted down.
When it turned into hail, the game was called off and with six overs bowled, and Owaka took the win via the DLS method.
The other two games were abandoned without a ball being bowled, and will need to be rescheduled.
— Francis Parker
