David Sewell

An unbeaten 89 from Nick Webster took Valley into the Borton Cup final when it beat Oamaru by a solitary wicket at Centennial Park on Sunday.

Valley won the toss and asked Oamaru to bat. Oamaru started brightly, going through to 90 for three after 21 overs. Josh Gutsell (42) and Nathan Mitchell (26) featured in a fourth wicket stand of 81, to take Oamaru to 124 for five of 33 overs.

Khali (29) batted profitably lower down the order before the final wicket fell in the 45th over, with the total at 160. Tony Gray was Valley's outstanding bowler taking five for 28, while Craig Direen claimed two for 37.

Valley started shakily losing wickets early to be 42 for three after 16 overs. The next seven overs saw Valley add 32 runs, but lose two further wickets to be at 74 for five. The arrival of Webster to the crease saw Valley begin a rear guard action as he took to the attack and began to reduce the deficit. After 29 overs Valley was 97 for six, with Webster on 39. Three overs later Valley was 120 for seven with Webster on the verge of his half century.

With four overs remaining, Valley needed 19 runs with three wickets in hand. Webster, on 70, lost his partner Craig Kingan (20) at this stage with the pair adding 64 for the eighth wicket. The winning runs came of the final ball of the 44th over, with Webster unbeaten on 89.

Bowling for Oamaru, David Sewell took four for 10 of his 10 overs while off spinner Paul Selbie finished with two for 48 of nine overs

Union fell 59 runs short of victory after winning the toss and putting Albion into bat on Centennial Park number two.

Albion started sluggishly and after eight overs was 34 for three, with Warwick Coe and Daniel Fletcher back in the pavilion without scoring. Steve Halliwell (32) and Peter Cartwright (20) resurrected the Albion innings with a fourth wicket stand of 68. Paul O'Dell (32) and Gareth Duncan added 49 for the sixth wicket before the innings closed at 199 for nine, a total exaggerated by the 43 wide's bowled from Union. Bowling for Union, Neil Rushton took five for 39 and Neville Donaldson two for 49.

Union lost Antony Cromwell, Mitch McRae and Thomas Shields in the first nine overs to be 16 for three. A fighting 43 from Rushton took Union to 96 for six after 23 overs and it was only defiant batting from Christian Westergaard (28 not out) and Neville Donaldson that took Union through to 141 before the final wicket fell in the 32nd over.

Blair Rawson and Warwick Coe took three wickets each for Albion, while Paul O'Dell claimed two for 15.

Player Pages:
Peter Cartwright (jnr) | Antony Cromwell | Craig Direen | Neville Donaldson | Daniel Fletcher | Tony Gray | Stephen Halliwell | Mitchell McRae | Nathan Mitchell | Paul Odell | Neil Rushton | David Sewell | Thomas Shields | Nick Webster |