Andy Craig hits another six during his quickfire 67 - note eyes in line with shot and ball - this was not always the case!

The Timaru & Celtic Second Grade sides played each other in the final of the Second Grade Twenty20 competition today. In perhaps a first, the final was played on South Canterbury’s main ground at Aorangi Oval giving many of the players an opportunity to play at a ground where they are normally only spectators.

For this occasion they also had two official umpires with Geoff Talbot and Kim Cotton officiating to add to the day.

Celtic batted first with Andy Craig openuing and setting the pace with 67 runs and bringing up his 50 off only 21 balls. Jamie McLaren (Celtic captain) batted through to the end to be next best with 34 not out and Celtic eventually scored 149-9 from their 20 overs.

While Celtic ended up with a good total, J Stevenson still had impressive bowling figures taking 4-11 from his 4 overs.

In reply Timaru set off on the run chase steadily but then lost two wickets when the score was 15. A half century third wicket partnership got Timaru back in the hunt,and the next 2 partnerships of 17 and 35 kept them well in the hunt, especially while Tim Mackle was at the wicket.

However, a bowling change with 4 overs left changed the game as McLaren brought himself on and picked up Mackle for 65 and tow other batsmen as he took 3-5, and with 10 runs an over still required the task became more difficult until Timaru reached the final over needing 15 and in the end lost their final wickets to be all out 14 runs short.

Scoreboard

At least five front-line players will attend the wedding of former South Canterbury player Ryan de Joux this weekend and coach Bruce Carlaw and assistant coach Robin Beeby have also chosen to be there, leaving team manager John Davies as caretaker coach.

First choice players Craig Davies, Dan Laming, Glenn Matthews, Jeremy Liddy and Sam Carlaw will attend the wedding, while Beeby is in the official wedding party and Bruce Carlaw is “good mates” with De Joux.

Bruce Carlaw said he had “tremendously mixed feelings” about the decision, but he had faith in the abilities of John Davies to step in.

“He [Davies] has been with the team from the start and I’m sure he will do a great job.”

South Canterbury Cricket executive officer David Fisher said having both coaches away “was not ideal but unavoidable”.

Zane Sanders will be on debut

Southland have won both of their Hawke Cup matches this season outright and a win over South Canterbury would all but assure them of top spot in the southern zone and a cup challenge.

South Canterbury will likely have two players on debut with Timaru’s left-arm spinner Zane Sanders and Indian-born batsman Dhananjaya Murari making the 12-man squad.

Bruce Carlaw said Murari was not considered an import player – only one is allowed under Hawke Cup rules – due to his long-standing work commitments.

Temuka’s Dylan Lees has earned a recall for his first Hawke Cup game after he played a pre-season one-day match.

Christchurch-based Ben McCord is unavailable, while Roncalli opening bowler Daniel Dorgan has been dropped.

Left-arm fast bowler Tahir Afridi has won the import spot over team-mate Ed Kilbee.

Bruce Carlaw said Kilbee had made himself unavailable for selection due to family commitments and he was “unsure” who he would have chosen if both Afridi, who is the leading wicket-taker and Kilbee, who is the top run-scorer, were available.

Afridi will be assisted with the seam bowling duties by Craig Hinton, who returns after missing the 10-wicket win over North Otago in round one, along with Temuka stalwart Kevin Teahen.

Dan Murari

The young Celtic duo of Willie Wright and Jacob Naylor have earned recalls to cover for their absent clubmates. Bruce Carlaw said Wright would take the wicket-keeping duties from captain Richie Preston, who will be promoted to open the batting with Bill Walsh.

Carlaw said a first innings result was needed, and he was delighted with the hunger shown by the squad at training.

“Like I told the guys [on Wednesday] night, I’ve been really impressed by their commitment and determination at trainings and their willingness to improve.

“It has been a return to the old days of playing for pride.

“There is no doubt that getting a first innings result is important.”We feel we have the firepower in the bowling to get the job done and hopefully we’ll be able to get the runs we need with the bat.”

Bruce Carlaw said a decision on the playing XI would be made once they saw the pitch.

The squad is: Richie Preston ©, Bill Walsh, Dhananjaya Murari, Jacob Naylor, Mark Tutton, Willie Wright (wk), Tahir Afridi, Dylan Lees, Craig Hinton, Kevin Teahen, Ben Watson, Zane Sanders

Fisher started as branch manager at the National Bank in Oamaru this week, which will see him pull double duty until June 1.

SCCA board president Andrew McRae said supporting the move was an attempt to try to keep Fisher as executive officer for as long as possible.

McRae said Fisher would continue to receive his full pay as executive officer of South Canterbury Cricket, and was still contactable by phone on any matters relating to cricket in South Canterbury.

Day-to-day operations for the next four months will be undertaken by community coaching development officer Shane Gilkison, who will still be located at the Graeme Blanchard Centre. McRae said Gilkison’s role “had been expanded” to accommodate the move, while SCCA board member Mark Medlicott was also likely to pick up some of the slack.

McRae said the executive officer’s role had its slow as busy periods, and it was hoped that by allowing Fisher to take up the bank role during a “quiet period” they would be able to keep him in the role long term.

“A lot of [Fisher's] work is done in preparation for the season – getting players organised, budgets, sponsorships and draws. “We don’t want him twiddling his thumbs during the quiet periods.

“[Supporting the job] is something we feel will keep him involved in South Canterbury Cricket long term.

“Someone of the calibre of Dave does not come along all the time, so this is a way we can hopefully keep him involved in South Canterbury Cricket.”

Fisher had more than 20 years experience in the banking sector before he moved back to South Canterbury from Nelson, to accept the executive officer role more than a year ago.

He has stated in the past he did not do the job for its financial benefits and it was more a lifestyle opportunity and chance to give back to the province.

Fisher said he hoped to take one day off a month from his banking role, to sort accounts and prepare for board meetings, while he would also get time off to coach the Timaru Boys’ High School first XV rugby team.

Fisher said he could understand people seeing the move as a negative, but he remained committed to cricket in South Canterbury.

He hoped the structures put in place under Gilkison would mean there would be no major issues.

Fisher said while the timing of the job “was not ideal” it was too good an opportunity to pass up.

“I would have liked it to have been a month later, because we are in the middle of the season, but it was a great opportunity.

“It keeps my foot in the door [of the banking sector].”

He said the SCCA Board’s understanding was appreciated and he had no plans to vacate his executive officer role.

“In the next 12 to 24 months I have no plans to move away.”

Fisher said the busiest time in his role with South Canterbury Cricket was August and September. He still hoped to attend club matches and Hawke Cup games over the next month.

The National Bank is stumping up $100,000 in cricket grants to schools, clubs, fans and social teams as part of the National Cricket Club Scheme.

Up to $5,000 will be awarded for each winning entry to spend on any cricket related activity. So if you could benefit from a grant, whether it be for new kit, equipment, coaching support or help getting to a regional tournament, we’d love to hear from you.

To apply all you have to do is fill out a short online application form explaining why you should receive the grant and what you will use it for, along with any photos and videos that support your submission. With more than 50 grants being awarded, there are plenty of opportunities to win.

For your chance, visit www.nationalcricketclub.co.nz – applications close on 24^th February 2012 at midnight.

Go straight to application pages - Follow this link and get your club in with a chance

WIN a National Bank Cricket Grant

Kris Howes

It was a 40.3-degrees-Celsius day, and while many suffered in Timaru’s hottest day on record, the Timaru Cricket Club was basking in their best day of senior cricket for the 2010-11 season.

With the South Canterbury senior Twenty20 cricket competition being played over Waitangi Weekend last year, Timaru had a clean slate and they took advantage of it, making the final against Celtic.

They could not buy a win in either the one-day or two-day competitions but in the final against the defending champions, they gave plenty of cheek, before conceding 20 runs from the penultimate over, which saw Celtic get home in the final over, chasing 146.

Fast-forward 12 months and the teams will meet again tonight in the Twenty20 final at Aorangi Oval.

Celtic will be deserved favourites, having lost just once this season in all competitions and on track to complete a three-peat of senior titles.

The loss, however, was in the round-robin of the Twenty20 competition – to Timaru.

Timaru captain Hayden Butler chose to spin the form guide in his favour.

“How are we going to beat Celtic?” he asked. “How are Celtic going to beat us?

“We’ve beaten them once already this season and the pressure is all on them.

“Everyone probably expects us to lose.

“If you look at it, Celtic should be red-hot [favourites] but we’re going to win and people just have to deal with that.”

Celtic captain Craig Davies said beating Timaru would have more to do with his team focusing on what they had to do to set, or defend, a total.

Butler said his team had learned from a tough season in 2010-11.

“Last year was always a rebuilding year and the best thing is that we have kept going. We’re finalists here and are near the top of the two-day competition.

“We are a young team and there is a good vibe in the sheds.”

The experienced Kris Howes will return for Timaru, in place of the unavailable Jordy Morrow.

Howes’ tall, medium pace, and lusty hitting could be a major factor, after he guided the team to a Twenty20 semifinal victory with 70 in a one-off appearance last season.

Butler said consistency tonight would go a long way to victory.

The improvement of all-rounder Zane Sanders was an example of how Timaru had shown their consistency.

Sanders has taken 30 wickets at senior level in all competitions this season, and sits third behind Roncalli College’s Tahir Afridi and Celtic’s Sam Carlaw on the bowling table, while offering some middle-order fight with the bat.

Butler said he was not concerned about Celtic rolling his team for 48 in the second innings of a two-day game last Saturday.

Meanwhile, Davies said there was a relaxed feeling in the camp.

He said 160 was probably a par score but with the right conditions, anything was possible.

“If you look at the T20 scores over the season, you’d probably say 90 was par, but 160 with short boundaries and a fast outfield should be achievable.”

He said the big hitters in Timaru’s middle order, such as Howes and possibly Tim Mackle, should he play, had the ability to turn a game.

He said the rotation policy with the Celtic batsmen seemed to have paid off.

Celtic will be without opening bowler Grant Watt, who will need six weeks to recover from a broken thumb after dropping a catch against Timaru last week.

Glenn Matthews and Dan Laming were likely to take up the fast bowling load, according to Davies.

The first ball will be bowled at 5.30pm.

THIS is the $100 pair of sunglasses that will change the way television sport is delivered into our lounge rooms.

From Wednesday night at the SCG, umpires will wear the glasses for the Fox Sports coverage of the Big Bash League.

Read the full story here or watch the video below

UMPCAM

The following is the format for the 2nd Grade A T20 competition being run from January 14 through until February 4. Pools have been set up according to current rankings in 2nd Grade A competition as at 6/12/2011 and all teams will play off on finals day Feb 4th.

You can see the full draw here

CricHQ Scoreboard

This year all the games at the U18 Regional Tournament will be scored on an Ipad system call CricHQ (don’t worry – they will be using a traditional score book as well!!).

By scoring the games on the iPads Canterbury Cricket will be able to provide “live” updates of the scoreboards from the games on the internet. This will enable all the parents and supporters to keep a track of the games if you can’t be there.

To view the scoreboards of the matches you need to go to http://www.crichq.com

If you click on the “matches – latest live” icon at the top of the home page it will take you to a list of games. You can click on the game you want to follow and it will bring up the score board for you. The scores will update approximately every 4 minutes, which is about once per over.

The new cost structure is as follows: (note price excludes lights which are not required during the day)

• Bowling Machine $5 per half hour per Individual
• Lane $5 per person (per hour)
• Whole Centre $25 per hour Team/Group

These prices are a special holiday offer and available immediately between the hours of 9am and 3.30pm Mon-Fri and subject to availability of the Indoor Centre.

If you have any questions or wish to make a booking you can contact the office on;

Ph: (03) 6863377

Mob: 027 214 4791

Email: admin@southcanterburycricket.co.nz