McEntee stars as Lions roar home
THE Lawrence Lions continued their winning run and severely dented the semifinal chances of the Valley Stingers with a threewicket win at Tuapeka Mouth on Saturday.
Valley batted first and made 189 all out in the 37th over.
The Stingers’ opening partnership of Bevan McCall (21) and Morgan Culbertson (34) got the home side off to a positive start. Some confident batting from lowerorder batsmen Marc Phillips (33) and Scott Bixley (28) pushed the Stingers to a total that could be defended.
Jordan McEntee was the best bowler with three for 25 off his eight overs. Zach Roulston also bowled well.
Roulston (11) and captain Sam Wyber (29) put on 44 for the second wicket before both were dismissed in quick succession.
McEntee came to the crease and dispatched the Stingers’ bowling attack to all parts in a matchwinning knock of 94. His innings included seven fours and eight sixes. McEntee was dismissed with the Lions in control and the tail saw them to victory.
Opening bowler Jonny May took three wickets but was expensive. McCall and Marc Phillips took the other wickets for the home side, which now needs to win its last two games to have any chance of making the semifinals.
The Owaka Bandits beat the Kai Kings by two wickets in Kaitangata.
The home side elected to bat first and scored 198 for seven off its 40 overs. Opening batsman Greg Webber top scored with 46 as he carried his side through to 99 for three before he was dismissed. The Kai middle order all got starts and some power hitting at the bottom of the innings from Orry Young (27) gave Kai a reasonable target to defend.
Bandits skipper Tony Miller took figures of two for 36 off six overs. CP Singh stood out for Owaka in the field. He took one for 25 off his eight overs but made four catches in the outfield.
The Bandits were cruising after the first seven overs, at 52 without loss, as openers Jeremy Gray and Mike Beeby looked to chase down the runs themselves. Jacob BealHarris (51), Joel White (11) and Gordon Edwards (26) added handy runs to the target.
BealHarris and Edwards were batting well before a mini collapse was sparked by a particularly vicious spell of bowling from Glenn Paterson.
Webber took three for 31 and threatened to take the game away from Owaka, but tailenders Nathan White and Stu Kelly guided the Bandits home with five overs to spare. The Bandits sit in outright second place and almost assured of a place in the playoffs.
The Waihola Swans beat the Clutha Comets by 84 runs in Balclutha. The Swans batted first and made 203 for nine in 38 overs.
Ashton Tourell topscored with 68 and Brad Williams was next best with 42. Connor Smith was the best of the Comets’ bowlers with three for 39 off eight overs.
The Comets were bowled out for 119 in the 21st over. Key batsman Rhiane Smith was dismissed first ball of the innings. Clutha never kept up with the run rate and lost wickets regularly. Connor Smith continued his good day with the team top score of 33 and Morgan Lindsay was next best with 24. Craig Gordon was the best of the Swans bowlers, with four for 24 off seven overs. Dylan Bungard and Ryan Clarke both picked up two wickets each. Waihola sits four points clear at the top of the table. Clutha remains in fourth place with two rounds left.