SOUTH OTAGO
The four semifinalists have been found with one week of round robin to spare. The makeup of the four all hinges on next weekend’s games.
The Kai Kings ended the Valley Stingers’ hopes of a semifinal appearance with a commanding 98run win at Tuapeka Mouth. The Kings batted first and scored 316 for eight in their 40 overs. The Kings were two batsmen down in the opening over. Stingers opener Tony Omelvena took the wickets of Blair Benington and the inform Ashton Tourell in his first three balls and gave the home side a perfect platform to keep adding pressure.
Jason Young and Hayden Finch batted well and put on a much needed partnership of 92 runs before Finch was dismissed for a tidy 51. Young continued on and was supported well by William Casey. The two put on another 90plus run stand to push the Kings past the 250 mark. Young was the glue in the Kings innings and brought up his maiden century towards the end of the innings. He was finally removed for an outstanding 109. His knock included 11 fours and seven sixes. Omelvena was the best of the Stingers bowlers yet again. He returned figures of three for 47 off eight overs.
In reply, the Stingers were dismissed for 214 in the 39th over. Dave McCall topscored with 45 runs. Michael Johnston was nexthighest with 38. Valley’s top and middle order all got starts but none could push on with a big score. Kobe Thomson was Kai’s best bowler with three for 57 off eight. Luc Thomson and Pat McKenna took two wickets each. Kai wrapped up first place in the round robin with this win.
The Waihola Swans moved into second place with a 68run win over the Owaka Bandits in Milton. The Swans batted first and made a respectable 194 all out in the final over of the innings.
Shannon Young topscored with 37. The Swans middle order felt the pinch and only Hamish Drummond (25) managed to contribute well. The Bandits bowlers gave away 44 extras in the innings. Jeremy Gray was the standout bowler for the Bandits, returning five for 46 off his eight overs.
In reply, the Bandits were dismissed for 126 in the 35th over. Partnerships were hard to come by and in the end the side lost too many wickets in patches.
Gray continued his individually brilliant game with 42. Francis Parker was nexthighest with 26. Dylan Bungard took three for 19 off eight overs for the Swans. Drummond was a demon behind the stumps, taking some nice catches and two very sharp stumpings.
The result leaves Owaka in fourth place and a potential semifinalist in Kaitangata in a couple of weeks.
The Milton King Crabs moved up to third with a 160run win over the Clutha Comets in Bal clutha. The Crabs batted first and scored 240 for nine in their 40 overs. Peter Grant topscored with 93 not out. He was supported well by Phil Scott (38) and Kent Nurse (31 not out).
Jared Crawford claimed three wickets for 50 off his eight overs.
In reply, the Comets stumbled to 60 runs inside 20 overs. Braden Adams was the chief destroyer with five for 31 off eight. Kent Nurse continued his happy return with three for 28.