In a thrilling finish, Oamaru's Khalil ur-Rehman hit the winning runs with three balls remaining in the innings to give Oamaru the Borton Cup for the 2007/08 season, defeating Valley by two wickets.
Valley captain Nick Webster won the toss and decided to bat, but former Black Cap and Otago representative David Sewell ripped the heart out the Valley top order, dismissing Kelvin Mansfield without scoring and Webster for four to have Valley 31 for two after nine overs.
Geoff Mavor and Mark Patterson set about rebuilding the innings, but Valley again slumped from 55 for two after 15 overs to 65 for four of 19 of the 45 overs, losing Mavor (18) and Patterson (21). But cometh the hour cometh John Blakely. Blakely defied the Oamaru attack resurrecting the innings with a gutsy 46 and featuring in a 38-run partnership with Scott Young for the eighth wicket.
The demise of Blakely saw Valley crumble to be all out for 167 in the 42nd over. Sewell finished with three for 19 off 9.1 overs and he was ably supported by Mark Creighton, who took two for 27 of his 10 overs.
Valley struck early in the Oamaru innings with Blakely and Patterson dismissing Josh Gutsell (3), Nick Johnston (3) and Regan George to have Oamaru 19 for three after four overs.
Nathan Mitchell (30) and Glenn Paterson (26) gave Oamaru hope with a fourth wicket stand of 58. The departure of Mitchell saw Oamaru captain Ben Coleman add impetus to his side's batting, taking 17 off one over from Mark Patterson to take Oamaru through to 122 for five. Coleman went soon after as Oamaru tottered at 144 for eight.
Khalil and Sewell worried runs out the Valley attack with six balls remaining needed three runs to win. Khalil took a single off the first ball of the over. The pair ran a leg bye off the second ball and Khalil cracked a boundary off the third ball to Oamaru the Borton Cup.
Blakely was Valley's man of the match, taking three for 29 off his 10 overs, while James McNally claimed two for 19 off six overs.
Short Scorecard(s)
Senior - Borton Cup - Final
Valley Senior vs Oamaru Senior at Excelsior 1
Valley Senior 167 ( J. Blakely 46, M. Patterson 21, G. Mavor 18, Sewell 3-19, Johnston 2-10, Creighton 2-27 )
Oamaru Senior 171-8 ( N. Mitchell 30, G. Paterson 26, B. Coleman 25, D. Sewell 13no, K. ur-Rehman 12no, Blakely 3-29, McNally 2-17 )
Oamaru won by 2 wickets
Full scorecard for the match