The SBS Bank T20 Finals were played last Thursday and Friday evening at Horton Park with a good turnout of spectators enjoying some exciting games. On Thursday UCVC took out the 2nd grade Section A title by a single run from Celtic Green in a tense finish. Ollie Lawson (45 from 22 balls) took Celtic to the brink of victory needing 4 from the final ball before being run out attempting a 3rd run that would have forced a super over. Dan Campbell took 3-21 opening the bowling for UCVC while Bryn Cotching top scored with 23 in their 123 total which proved just enough.
In the Section B final Renwick Veterans came out on top over previously unbeaten Wairau Warriors winning by 7 wickets. Iain Tyler, Wade Cornelius, Jamie Norton and Greg Gill each took 2 wickets as the usually strong Warriors batting was restricted to 79 for 9 from their 20 overs. Adam Balasoglou (17) and Tony Andrews (19no) then guided the Vets to victory with 4 overs to spare.
Celtic won an exciting Senior Grade final on Friday evening by 4 wickets with 2 balls to spare. Needing 12 from the final over Ben Blackman saw his team home, crucially hitting a big 6 from the 3rd ball of the over. Josh Poole (28) and Tom Sutherland (25 & 1-17) were the Celtic match winners while Nick Weaver top scored with 40 for Wairau and Andrew McCaa claimed 4-26.
Wairau Valley produced a superb bowling and fielding performance to take out the 3rd grade final restricting the Wairau youngsters to 120 from their 20 overs, Max Ruffell top scoring with 28 supported by Hayden McWilliam with 24. For Valley Spencer Gregg took 2-27 and backed that up with an unbeaten 44 alongside Nathan Glue who also finished 44 not out.
There was a sensational performance from Wairau Red’s Billly Hurren in the latest round of WK 4th Grade who smashed 119no from 44 balls including 7 sixes and 13 fours as his team rattled up 302 runs from their 30 overs. Wairau Valley responded well with 246 for 7 (Harry MacNeill 57) while Hurren also picked up 2-11 from his 4 overs in a very high scoring game on the Oliver Park no3 ground. Other strong performers in WK games last Saturday included; Eddie Russell (48), Harry Nailer (3-28), Lachie Cooney (5-9), Oscar Duncan (26), Julian Englefield (2-14), Thomas Heagney (65), Fionn Heagney (76), Harry McKendry (3-11), Tamati de Wiltd (20), Freddie Heagney (2-12).
Entries are now open for our annual school festival days taking place in early March. Year 3-4 festival is on 4th March with the year 5-6 festival the following day, both at Horton Park. Email Eddie Swan on development@marlboroughcricket.co.nz to enter or for more information.