Valley claim second grade 40-over title

Wairau Valley are the Marlborough second grade 40-over champions, after scoring a 55-run win over Kaikoura in the final at Horton Park today.

Valley batted first in the Challenge Cup decider, reaching a moderate target of 140 before being dismissed in the 35

th

over. Opener Joel Pannell ensured Valley made a decent start, scoring a patient 23 from 32 balls. However there was not much support forthcoming before veteran Richard Moran, batting No 7, put together an unbeaten 37 from 57 balls to push his side’s total well past 100.

Best of the visiting bowlers was Sukhi Multani with 3-29, Scott Snow, 2-28, Bill Parsons, 2-23, and Gary Kalwan with 2-13.

Kaikoura’s reply was in trouble early. Both openers fell for a duck and the damage continued with a succession of lbw decisions and an unnecessary run out. At 15-6 all hope seemed gone but a defiant innings of 35 from 56 balls by Jason Ruawai saw them gain a little momentum. However, the wickets continued to fall and the Cray Coasters came up well short.

Best of the Valley attack was opener Chirag Jagota who finished with the superb figures of 5-18 from five overs. Greg Stretch grabbed three late wickets for just 11 runs to hasten the visiting side’s demise.