Two centuries featured in the second last qualifying round of Borton Cup cricket. Oamaru’s Francois Mostert’s 114 followed his  unbeaten 128 the previous week while Union opener Jeremiah Shields made 112 not out as Union defeated Oamaru. Shields’ century was his first in senior club cricket and included eighteen fours and two sixes while Mostert hit eight fours and six sixes in his effort.

Oamaru won the toss against Union and decided to bat on an all weather pitch. After eleven overs Oamaru was teetering at 21 for three before some hard hitting from Mostert and James Mallinson,36 off 19 balls, enabled Oamaru to make 220 before the final wicket fell in the 48th over. Bowling for Union Matt Lilley took three for 28 while Michael Ormandy and Duncan Drew took two wickets each with Drew running out James Backhouse with a superb throw early in the innings.

Shields and Glynn Cameron(29) produced an opening stand  of 87. With brother Thomas, Shields put on 47 for the third wicket and combined with Paul Johnston in a fifth wicket stand of 40 as Union passed the Oamaru total in the 41st over. Oamaru fielded a couple of veteran bowlers in Mark Julius in his third decade of senior cricket, who took two for 31 off his ten overs while offspinner Paul Selbie produced a tight spell in his 45th year of senior cricket.

Paul Odell(30) and Peter Cartwright(28) gave Albion a solid start  at 63 for two against Valley before the side was dismissed for 194 in the 38th over with Matt Day(34) and Marshall Smith(28) adding late runs. Bowling for Valley Reuben Simpson took three for 33 and Nick Kelland, three for 53.Byron Neil(48) and Cameron Leckie(26) saw Valley through to 132 for four with a second wicket stand of 67. Nathan McLaughlin(43) and Hamish McKenzie(26) guided Valley through to 196 for six with Odell and Dylan Winter taking two wickets each for Albion.

Eastern had an eight wicket win over St Kevin’s College. Batting first the College side was dismissed for 66 with Cameron Grubb, Roger Buckingham and Brad Caplin taking two wickets each. An unbeaten 39 from Andrew Grubb saw Eastern through to 69 for two in the thirteenth over.

Union, Waitaki Boys High School and Valley have confirmed places in the Borton Cup semi finals in a fortnight’s time. Union clear leaders on 105 points followed by Waitaki Boys High School(80), Valley which has the bye in the final round and receives ten points has 80 points leaving Eastern(60) which meets Union in the final round and Albion(65) which plays Waitaki Boys vying for the final place.

Short Scorecard(s)

Senior - Borton Cup - Round 11

Valley Senior vs Albion Senior at Don Field Artifical
Albion Senior 194 ( M. Day 34, P.M. Odell 30, P. Cartwright 28, M. Smith 28, R. Simpson 3-33, M. Smith 3-53 )
Valley Senior 196-6 ( B. Neale 48, N. McLachlan 43, C. Leckie 26, H. McKenzie 26, D. Winter 2-18, P.M. Odell 2-37 )
Valley by 4 wkts

Union Senior vs Oamaru Senior at St Kevins Artifical 2
Oamaru Senior 220 ( F. Mostert 114, J. Mallinson 36, M. Lilley 3-28, M. Ormandy 2-24, D. Drew 2-35 )
Union Senior 221-4 ( J.H. Shields 112no, G.R. Cameron 29, M. Julius 2-31 )
Union by 6 wkts

Eastern Senior vs St Kevins 1st XI at St Kevins Artifical 1
St Kevins 1st XI 66 (B. Caplin 2-5, C. Grubb 2-11, R. Buckingham 2-12 )
Eastern Senior 69-2 ( A. Grubb 39no )
Eastern by 8 wkts