Sparey tees off as Owaka Bandits take Challenge Cup with convincing win

THE Owaka Bandits won the South Otago Cricket Challenge Cup with a resounding 104run win over the previously unbeaten Waihola Swans in Milton on Saturday.

After Waihola won the toss and put Owaka in, openers Jeremy Gray and Josh Huddleston put on a stand of 65 inside nine overs.

This platform set up the Bandits nicely for the fireworks that were to follow.

Batsman Colin Sparey strode to the crease with the score at 90 for three in the 13th over. He then unleashed his renowned power to take on the Waihola bowling attack in one of the cleanest displays of hitting this competition has seen. Sparey hit six fours and 15 sixes in his total of 129, his second century of the season.

He shared a 149run partner ship with Joel White (24) which took the Bandits to 250 with 10 overs remaining. The lower order chimed in to push Owaka past the 300 mark, and it finished on 305 for seven.

Gray was the nexthighest scorer with 55.

Peter Grant stemmed the flow of runs towards the end, and took the key wicket of the impressive Sparey. He finished with the respectable figures of three for 34 off five overs.

The Swans started their reply very promisingly. Openers Jordie Bungard and Shannon Young put on an opening stand of 81 to also set a nice platform. Both were dismissed in quick succession, though, as the Swans went into the drinks break at 120 for three. Owaka’s bowling partnership of CP Singh (four for 45) and Francis Parker (three for 18) bowled a great spell in tandem after drinks, to slow the run rate and leave the

Swans’ batsmen with plenty to do in the last 15 overs.

Some late hitting from Ashton Tourell (39 not out) and James MacLean (16) could not keep up with required run rate, and Waihola was bowled out for 201 in the 38th over.

The Valley Stingers recorded their second win of the competition, with a sevenwicket win over the Clutha Comets in Tuapeka.

The Comets batted first and made 155 all out in the 26th over.

Opening batsman Darren Baucke batted extremely well at the top of the order, with 86 in just his second game for the Comets. But Stingers bowler Marc Phillips ripped through the dangerous Comets middle order, and was unplayable at times.

He returned figures of four for 12 off five overs. Stingers stalwart Richard Ray did the rest of the damage, taking five for 43 off eight overs, including the key wicket of Baucke.

Nick Manston’s 27 was the nextbest Clutha contribution.

Led by experienced batsman Morgan Culbertson in his 50th appearance for Valley, the home team strolled home.

Culbertson carried his bat to the finish, ending up on 93 not out off 70 deliveries. His knock consisted of 14 fours and two sixes.

Mike Johnston (21) and Dave McCall (16) hit useful cameos as the Stingers chased the total down in the 27th over. Rhiane Smith was the best Comets bowler, with two for 19 off seven.

The Kai Kings recorded a sixwicket win over the Lawrence Lions in Kaitangata. Kai put the Lions into bat, and some fantastic bowling by the younger members of the team had Lawrence 96 all out in the 28th over.

Kobe Thomson was the pick of the bowlers, with three for 16 off his eight overs. Star bowler Lilly Paterson also took three wickets for only eight runs off six overs.

Jordan McEntee was the only Lions batsman of note. He scored 41 but had no support.

The Kings chased the total down in the 26th over for the loss of four wickets. Jason Young and William Casey both struck 22.

Lions captain Sam Wyber turned in parsimonious figures of one for 15 off eight overs.