The shield, which is played for every year by an Orange representative side and the Whakatipu High School outfit, alternating between being held in Orange and Queenstown, was deadlocked at two wins apiece heading into the clash.

However, Murphy's swashbuckling 50 ensured the hosts got home with just one ball to spare.

Todd Vermeir (33 not out) and Aiden Young (20 not out) helped steady the visitors' ship after WHS lost both openers in the same Arnie Tancred over, with Fletcher Marshall (23) the only other Kiwi batter to get going.

Tancred conceded just 1-13 off his four overs to be the pick of the Orange bowlers, while Cam Warbuton took 2-24 from three.

Murphy got the hosts off to a quick start, hitting six fours and three sixes - including 19 off one Subath Winerathna over - before retiring at 50 in his side's chase of 119, but it quickly unravelled.

Outside Luke Hunter and Charlie Tink, the hosts had two run-outs and lost two wickets to the bowling of CJ Kemp, but managed to scrape over the line in the final over thanks to a Hugh Thompson boundary.