CRICKET CORRESPONDENT
The Valley Stingers produced a thrilling last›ball win over the Owaka Bandits to claim the South Otago 40›over round robin shield at Tuapeka Mouth on Saturday.
After some pre›match deliberations, the decision was made toplay despite some moisture on the pitch.
Valley won the toss and asked Owaka to bat, and the Bandits made 219 for eight.
Owaka opener Jeremy Gray was again in fantastic touch, featuring in several handy partnerships before being dismissed for 56 to notch yet another half›century.
Bandits skipper Quentin Gare and Francis Parker added 43 for the fifth wicket before Ash Sharma removed Parker for 26.
Sharma tore through the Bandits’ lower order but Gare held strong, finishing unbeaten on 83, his third half›century in a row.
Sharma recovered well from a dodgy opening over to record four for 57 off his eight overs. Richard Ray bowled well in tandem with Sharma and finished with two for 21 off eight.
In reply, Morgan Culbertson (22), Michael Johnston (23) and Alex Campbell (57) all made handy runs for the Stingers.
Once Campbell was removed in the 27th over, the Stingers still required 96 runs and, when Bevan McCall and Luis Smales departed shortly after one another, Valley languished at 138 for five with 10 overs remaining.
Valley skipper Lachie Johnston sized up the challenge and produced one of the better finishing knocks this competition has seen in years.
There were two run›outs towards the end of the match but Valley always had hope with Johnston on strike.
Valley needed 15 runs from the final over with the skipper at the danger end. Two sizeable sixes turned the match in his favour before a dot ball on the penultimate ball of the innings meant Valley needed two from the last delivery.
Johnston showed the ice in his veins by dispatching his third six of the over to give his side the win and some well›deserved silverware. He finished unbeaten on 62.
Kai Kings retain cup
The Kai Kings retained the Challenge Cup with a win over the Waihola Swans at Kaitangata.
The Kings recorded 160 all out largely thanks to 58 from captain Mark Shepherd. Swans captain Jared Cunningham returned outstanding figures of six for six off five overs to give his side a chance of its first 40›over win. Waihola got into a winning situation but fell 10 runs short. Needing 15 off the last over was too much. Brad Williams top›scored for Waihola with an unbeaten 84. The wickets were shared around the Kai bowlers.
