Paul Johnston

The Union Senior team have qualified for the Borton Cup final next weekend after a dominant performance against Albion in the semi-final held at King George Park.

With rain falling in the morning there was some doubt on the start of play but the weather lifted about 30 minutes before the scheduled start and Albion captain Dylan Winter elected to bowl first after winning the toss. Openers Antony Cromwell and Jeremiah Shields soon made them regret that decision as they put on 125 runs for the opening wicket seeing their team into a strong position. Cromwell was first to be dismissed after a deflection of the bat onto his pads found the stumps for his top score of the season so far of 60, Union 125-1 after 30 over's. The home team suffered a bit of a collapse however as the next ten over's saw the loss of 4 wickets for 35 runs including the wicket of in-form Shields for 50. It was left to Paul Johnston and Dan Conlan who saw their team through to 230 putting on 33 runs in only four over's, Union 230-8 after 50 over's.

Albion were immediately in trouble losing two wickets in the first over of the innings, as Dan Conlan was making use of the over head conditions to swing the ball. Despite being up with the required run rate both Conlan and Neville Donaldson were making in-roads into the Albion line up as wickets tumbled at both ends. The only batsman who looked like staying for a prolonged time was Brad Kernahan who after he was dismissed for 50 ended Albion's hopes of a Borton Cup final, Albion all out for 108, 123 runs short of victory. For Union Dan Conlan was lethal with the ball taking 5-51, while evergreen Neville Donaldson took 4-46.

Union will now play Valley in the Borton Cup Final after they beat Oamaru in the other Semi-final to be played. This will be Union's second year in a row after last years victory and the team will be looking to celebrate Union's 100th year with a victory.

Player Pages:
Daniel Conlan | Antony Cromwell | Neville Donaldson | Paul Johnston | Jeremiah Shields |

Union 230-8 ( A Cromwell 60, J Shields 50, P Johnston 28no, D Conlan 14no, Kernahan 2-22, Odell 2-43 )
Albion 108 ( B Kernahan 50, P Odell 12, Conlan 5-51, Donaldson 4-46 )
Union won by 112 runs
Full scorecard for the match