Unbeaten Stingers T20 champions

• Published date: 26 January 2023
• Publication title: Clutha Leader

The Stingers beat the Kai Kings by four wickets in a match that went down to the final over at Tuapeka Mouth on Saturday

The Kai Kings elected to bat after winning the toss but were in trouble early.

Valley opening bowlers Ash Sharma and Alfie Omelvena-Flame bowled eight tight overs between them to leave Kai struggling at 29 for one.

William Casey and Mark Shepherd combined in the middle and began to raise the run rate for their side but some economical bowling and superb fielding through the middle stages meant the score did not increase as much as they would have liked.

Some late-innings hitting from Kobe Thomson allowed Kai to reach 136 for five, a total which has been defended more often than not this season. Casey top-scored with 52 and Shepherd was next highest on 26.

Jack Barraclough took two for 20 off his four overs but it was the opening spells from Sharma and Omelvena-Flame that set the tone for the innings.

In reply, Stingers opening batter Morgan Culbertson once again showing his ability to score runs quickly and effectively.

Culbertson and opening partner Alex Campbell put on 46 for the first wicket inside four overs, Campbell contributing just seven before he was dismissed. With two overs remaining, Valley needed 18 runs with young guns Luis Smales and Alfie Omelvena-Flame at the crease.

Kings skipper Mark Shepherd took it upon himself to bowl the final over and took the wicket of Omelvena-Flame second ball.

New batter Jack Barraclough was on strike and managed to hit a single to give Smales a chance with two balls remaining. Smales needed just the one, clobbering a six to win the match and bring up his first half-century in South Otago senior cricket. Culbertson’s 43 off 22 was the next highest and the best possible start his side could have asked for.

This is the first piece of competition-winning silverware the Stingers have earned since re-entering the competition. They finish the T20 unbeaten.

The Stingers travel to Clutha to play the Comets next week in a must-win match. Kai heads to Owaka next weekend for a key match-up in the 40-over competition in which it is in a...