It took till last Sunday’s fifth round for a team to successfully defend the Ranfurly Shield of Queenstown Twenty/20 cricket this season. 

Frankton retained the Ian Paterson Challenge Cup for a second week, fending off Jack’s Point by 28 runs.
The win means Frankton also retain their lead in the Mountain Scene competition alongside Central Queenstown and Fernhill/Sunshine Bay. 

Central Queenstown easily beat cellar-dwellers Lake Hayes Estate. Central Queenstown’s Hayden Finch top-scored with 75 and team-mate Brad Patterson had sensational bowling figures, snaring three wickets for no runs off his single over. 

But Fernhill/Sunshine Bay were nearly knocked off their perch – Arrowtown fell an agonising two runs short, chasing 120 for victory. 

Kelvin Heights, with Rob von Elling contributing 75 to their total of 111, beat Wakatipu, who suffered four run-outs, by 20 runs. 

Co-leaders Central Queenstown and Frankton clash in this Sunday’s penultimate round.