Neil Rushton

Oamaru won the Borton Cup for the first time since 1991 when it gained a first innings victory against Union at its home ground of Awamoa Park.

Oamaru won the toss and elected to field looking to have maximum use of strike bowler David Sewell in Unions first innings. In his second over and the third of the match he stuck taking 3 wickets of four balls. Sewell took to the vital wickets of Donaldson, Drew and Wilson to leave Union three wickets down for only fours runs. Soon Gard followed for 6, but Unions strength is in its batting depth and good partnerships followed. The last five wickets scored 96 runs with Neil Rushton dominating most of the scoring finishing with 41 not out, while Regan George, playing in his first Borton Cup final, second top scored with 17. Paul Johnston record his highest score of the season, batting with Rushton in a 34 run ninth wicket partnership, before falling for 14. union was all out for 136 with David Sewell taking 5-36.

First innings points being vital in the final, Union realized it had to constantly take wickets and at stumps had to Oamaru at least six or seven wickets down. Oamaru looked to score runs quickly but lost two early wickets with the score on 21 and 23. Matt Slater looked to take to the Union attack before he was out for 61 with the score at 95. Union took two further wickets, Tim Geeves for a duck and Shirban Pasupati for 14, to leave Oamaru 105-6 at stumps. Neil Rushton taking 4-33. Union started the second day missing two its best players, strike bowler Neil Rushton and wicketkeeper batsman Duncan Drew, due to Otago commitments. Oamaru were also missing David Sewell.

Oamaru looked to bat as long possible and crawled along at a slow pace. Mark Wilson, opening the bowling along with Steven Ridley for the second day, at one stage bowled 5 maidens in a row, and then 7 maidens in 8 over's. Oamaru's tactic worked and they gained a vital first innings lead losing no further wickets. With the loss of Duncan for 15, Union then took two quick wickets, but Andrew Cocking scored 20. Oamaru all out for 181, a first innings lead of 45.

Realizing that the only hope of a victory was an outright win Union looked to score its runs quickly, but the Union batsmen found scoring runs hard due to some good fielding and tight bowling. Union declared on 119-8, with Regan George top scoring with 21. Robert Coates was unbeaten on 16 after scoring two fours in a row. Oamaru needing 75 runs of 14 over's to win by outright.

Union opened the bowling with part-time spinner Glynn Cameron, looking to encourage Oamaru to pay some loose shots. In the fifth over the tactic worked with opener Matt Slater run out for 28, but after the loss of his wicket Oamaru adopted a slow and steady approach finishing the 14 over's on 58-4. The main highlight for Union was a delighted Daniel Gard picking up his first Senior wicket having Shirban Pasupati caught out by Paul Johnston for 4. Glynn Cameron was expensive but took two wickets finishing with 2-35 of his seven over's.

Player Pages:
Glynn Cameron | Robert Coates | Neville Donaldson | Duncan Drew | Regan George | Paul Johnston | Steven Ridley | Neil Rushton | Mark Wilson |

Union 140 ( N. Rushton 41no, R. George 17, P. Johnston 14, G. Cameron 11, A. Cromwell 11, D.Sewell 5-36, S. Pasupati 3-35 ) & 119-8dec ( R. George 21, D. Gard 17, A. Cromwell 17, M. Wilson 16, R. Coates 16no, T. Geeves 3-26, J. Conlan 2-65 )
Oamaru 181 ( M. Slater 61, A. Sewell 41, A. Cocking 20, R. Duncan 15, S. Pasupati 14, J. Gandhi 13, N. Rushton 4-33, S. Ridley 2-25, M. Wilson 2-38, N. Donaldson 2-42 ) & 58-4 ( M. Slater 28, J. Gandhi 11, G. Cameron 2-35 )
First innings win to Oamaru
Full scorecard for the match