Brad Fleming

The Union Senior team continued its undefeated run in the Borton Cup with a hard fought win against Oamaru at King George Park yesterday and continued it record run with a successful defence of the Payne Tempero Cup.

Oamaru were put in to bat by Union's Thomas Shields and lost the wicket of Jordan Bartlet early on for 2. Curle and George then combined for a steady partnership before Curle was out for 7. Oamaru then suffered a mini collapse with the wickets of Murphy (13) and George (50) out soon after. South African Mostert then dominated the innings top scoring with 63, taking 21 of one over as the other batsmen looked to bat around him. They struggled to form partnerships in the middle part of the order as wickets fell constantly and they were all out in the 50th over. For Union the slow bowlers were the main wicket takers with Paul Johnston (3-35) and Duncan Drew (3-44) took three wickets each. Dan Conlan was extremely economical conceding only 9 runs in 8.2 overs. Oamaru all out for 164, a very competitive total on a heavy outfield and a wicket that would be difficult to bat on early in the innings

Union started baldly losing veteran Glynn Cameron for 4 with the total on 10. Jeremiah Shields and Duncan Drew then put their team back on track moving the total to 58 before Shields was caught of the bowling of Gutsell for 51. Union lost the wicket of Thomas Shields (5) soon after to leave Union 76-3 and the game evenly poised. Shields wicket was the first wicket for Mostert in the game as he medium pace started to strangle the Union batsmen. Sean Conlan was bowled for 5, Mostert's second wicket, as they started to struggle at 95-4. Drew was then joined by Paul Johnston and they both put together a partnership of 62 for the 5th wicket that put Union firmly in control. With the loss of Drew for 51, his second half-century in four innings so far this season and then Johnston (30), Union looked to be wobbling but Dan Conlan and Brad Fleming then safely saw their side to 165 and a victory of four wickets. For Oamaru Mostert took 3-15 of his 10 overs, while Josh Gutsell took 2-41.

The win means Union retain the Payne Tempero Cup, held since November 2011, and has defended it successfully 10 times in a row. Next week they will defend it against Eastern, with it being Eastern's first ever challenge.

Player Pages:
Glynn Cameron | Daniel Conlan | Duncan Drew | Brad Fleming | Paul Johnston | Jeremiah Shields |

Oamaru 164 ( F. Mostert 63, R. George 50, M. Murphy 13, P. Johnston 3-35, D. Drew 3-44 )
Union 165-6 ( D. Drew 51, P. Johnston 30, J. Shields 26, F. Mostert 3-15, J. Gutsell 2-41 )
Union won by 4 wickets
Full scorecard for the match