Supplied/Marlborough Express
Wairau Valley won the Senior Grade SBS Bank Cricket Championship trophy in 2018 the team is pictured here. The team are also unbeaten this year.
Wairau Valley are the only unbeaten side in the SBS Bank 2nd grade challenge cup competition following a narrow 8 run win over Kaikōura at Horton Park on Saturday. Luke Pannell was the match winner for Valley scoring 89 out of the team total of 166 and taking 3 wickets including last player out Sukhi Multani, who struck 32 from number 9 in the order to take Kaikōura so close to their 3rd win. Renwick are level in 2nd place following their win over Celtic Gold, Andrew Nation scoring 73 and taking 3 wickets while Matt Morley took 4-33 for Celtic.
Bailey Andrews-Kennedy took 4-28 as Stoke were dismissed for 181. Then after Chris Turkington (52) and Ben Ivory-McCullum (37) had set a solid base to the Falcons reply, Harry MacDonald blasted 55no from 26 balls to complete the win in only 29 overs. A much changed Dolphins side lost at Wanderers in a close low scoring encounter. With four games remaining in the New Year there is still plenty to play for however with all teams still in with a chance of making the semi-finals in February. Renwick led the way in the Senior Grade T20 competition following a 43 run win over Wairau Valley. Rikki Bovey (59), Akhil Pant (38) and Joe Timms (52 from only 22 balls) were the main run scorers for Renwick.