Losing the toss, South Canterbury was asked to field in hot sunshine. All of the bowlers had some sort of success and were rewarded with the wickets being shared between them. The best of them being Rachel Clements who, when Central were all out for 95, finished with the fine figures of 4/9 off 6 overs. In only her second time at the bowling crease, Amy Beeby also bowled her left armers well and finished with 1 wicket and should have had another, but for a dropped catch.

As cricket games often go, when the team batting first only posts a low score, often the team chasing struggles and this was no different when South Canterbury began its run chase.

Courtney Buckman and Mellissa O’Brien got the visiting side off to a cautious start with an opening partnership of 16. When these two were parted things began to go horribly wrong for South Canterbury and they began to loose wickets at regular intervals. Keryn Ward (16) decided to only hit the balls she had to and found valuable alias in Clements (11) and Rowan Milburn (12).

They crept closer to the winning target but found the going tough as J Gibson with her slow off spinners made the 96 runs hard to get. In the end with 1 run need for victory the last pair of Kaitlyn Young and Beeby scrambled a run, much to the delight of coach/umpire, Richard Davidson and their team mates on the sideline.

In bitterly cold conditions yesterday, South Canterbury batted first and scored 157 for eight from their 40 overs, thanks to Rowen Milburn with 44 and Lisa Grant who made 39.

The pair combined for a match defining partnership, after the hosts had slumped to 77-6 at one point.

Dunedin appeared to be cruising to their target  with nine wickets in hand with under half the runs to get, but tight bowling by Amber Boyce, who took three wickets and Milburn, who showed her all round talent by bagging three, meant the squeeze went on the young Dunedin side and they were all out with the target in sight.

South Canterbury Cricket community development officer, Richard Davidson said he was pleased with the commitment the team showed in the field.

The experience of Grant, Boyce and Milburn, who have all played domestic cricket for either Otago or Canterbury proved to be the difference, he said.

The Aotea Cup is played between teams from Dunedin, Central Otago, Southland and South Canterbury.

South Canterbury’s next opponents will be Central Otago in Oturehua next weekend.

Coaches Report:

After winning the toss, South Canterbury got of to a slow start and was soon in trouble at the half way stage of their innings. With only 60 runs on the board they had lost 5 wickets. Only Courtney Hamel (11) and Courtney Buckman (15) got into double figures. All of the top order had trouble with the swinging ball and struggled to hit the ball into gaps. When Otago Spark, Lisa Grant (44) and retired White Fern Rowan Milburn (40no) came together they began to run the quick singles, (although this was to be Grant’s down fall as she tried this once too often and was run out). At the end of South Canterbury’s allotted 40 overs they had got through to a now respectful and defendable total of 157/7.

Dunedin’s turn at bat got of to a steady start against the new ball attack of Hannah Linton and Hamel who picked up the first wicket LBW with the total on 9.

Team mate of Grant in the Sparks and Dunedin captain, Kate Crowley kept the innings going by hitting the bad ball to the boundary. Her innings of 80 no made up of over half of Dunedin’s runs. With her at the crease the Dunedin were always going to go close. The run rate required always kept in toe with the balls remaining.

With the introduction of Milburn (3-22) and Amber Boyce (4-24) the chase was slowed down somewhat and the final over began with 8 run required for a Dunedin victory. The first ball of Libby Stuck’s over created a runout at the bowlers end resulting in South Canterbury wining by 8 runs.

Being dismissed for 59 against eventual winners Christchurch cost the team any chance for the title.

The 50-over competition started positively for South Canterbury when their bowlers rattled through Canterbury Country in their opening game.

Having scored 166, the South Canterbury bowlers, led by Hannah Linton with 6-11, tore through the Canterbury Country line-up for just 66.

Their middle game against eventual winners Christchurch proved to be their undoing.

Once more the bowlers did their job and restricted the hosts to just 111, thanks to Mid-Canterbury import Primrose Pudney, who took 5-32.

The target looked small, but some accurate Christchurch bowling saw South Canterbury fall 52 runs short, with only one batter making it to double figures.

The South Canterbury batters saved their best effort for the last game against Christchurch Red.

Openers Courtney Buckman and Courtney Hamel, who finished on 82 not out, combined for a 176-run partnership, until Buckman misjudged a second run, to be run out on 99, but the innings held firm and South Canterbury set an imposing total of 258.

Christchurch Red could only muster 54 in reply, as Linton capped off a fine tournament with another three wickets, and Buckman showed her all-round ability, taking 2-10 from her spell.

Boyce, a middle-order batter, came to prominence in the women’s provincial one-day final last year when she got the Canterbury Magicians home in a whirlwind last wicket stand, scoring 30 off 15 balls.

What was extraordinary was the fact it was the 25-year-old’s first year back in the sport since she attended Marlborough Girls’ College.

She started to get interested in cricket again by helping students at Roncalli.

Boyce was then invited to play senior club cricket in Christchurch for Suburban by Mountainview High School PE teacher and retired White Fern Rowan Milburn.

Hooked by the challenge, she has stepped aside from golf after representing Aorangi last year and playing off a two handicap, to concentrate on hockey and cricket.

“I like the challenge and with cricket, I want to see how far I can go.”

In winter Boyce was in the champion St Andrews’ senior hockey side and scored the match-winning goal in the final.

She has been Hockey South Canterbury’s player of the year for the past two seasons.

She went on to represent the Otago representative side, the Southern Storm, in the national hockey league.

Last term, Boyce travelled around New Zealand depending where the game was – to Dunedin for hockey practice and Christchurch for cricket practice with the Magicians – clocking up more than 1000 kilometres a week.

“I guess I’m two hours from anywhere I need to be.”

She is happy to call Timaru home despite the hectic travel schedule.

Boyce said she had always loved sport, helped by her hand-eye co-ordination.

“I represented Tasman in golf at 15, then Otago and Aorangi and maybe when I’m a bit older, I will go back to it. For now, the focus is cricket and I’m really looking forward to playing in Australia,” Boyce said. She will go to Brisbane for 10 days to play against the Australian under-21 side in four Twenty20 games and two one-day internationals.

Tiffen, who learnt to play in Timaru, won the award after her outstanding performances at the women’s World Cup in Australia in July.

“It was a really nice way to finish, on what was a very special night.”

The 30 year old, who retired after the tournament, averaged more than 46 with the bat, and scored her first one-day international century against Pakistan.

Despite being considered an all-rounder, she scored the second most runs in the tournament.

She said her form could be put down to a relaxed attitude and wanting to enjoy herself.

“I had been thinking about retiring so I decided to just go out there and enjoy myself.”

The 117 ODI veteran said she was pleased with where women’s cricket was heading.

“We now have four quality teams … You don’t want to be playing one team and seeing that as your most important match all the time.”

Tiffen said she was looking forward to spending a relaxed, quiet summer beyond the boundary rope.

“I guess I’m looking forward to having a few sips of wine and cheering on the girls from the sideline.”

This mainly affects the Women’s competition and some Fourth Grade teams

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The women, playing the third round of the Aotea Cup at Aorangi, recorded their second win after batting first and scored 211-3 from 40 overs against Dunedin.

Milburn’s 116 was the stand-out performance as she and Bridget McMaster (29) added 165 for the first wicket. Courtney Buckman scored 12 while Kim Cotton and Megan Linton both finished 18 not out.

In reply Dunedin started well, scoring 93 runs before the fall of the first wicket, but after the run out of their top batsman for 66 it was a steady procession back to the tent for the Dunedin batsmen with Libby Stuck taking 2-35. Milburn capped off a great day with 2-20 while Grace Kerridge and Megan Linton picked up a wicket each.

A 170-run innings, including 17 fours and three sixes by McKenzie in the under-19 match against North Otago was the outstanding contribution to that match. McKenzie was the dominant batter in the first of three partnerships which were all in excess of 90 runs. He was also well supported by Tom Bouch (31), Liam Crowley (30) and Hayden Matthews (33) as South Canterbury set an imposing total of 337-6 from their 50 overs.

North Otago set about the chase well adding 94 before the fall of a wicket, but after the loss of their top three (B Cant 61, J Shields 47, S Conlon 41) and the introduction of Phil Lill (3-44), Mckenzie with 2-29 and Bouch 2-9, the North Otago innings faltered as they lost their last six wickets for the addition of only 55 runs and were eventually all out for 236 in the last over.

South Canterbury under-15 played Mid Canterbury and after winning the toss batted first.

The first wicket fell early before a superb unbeaten 122 from Millar and 80 from Josh Dick added more than 170 runs for the second wicket allowing South Canterbury to reach 265-4 from their allotted overs.

Mid Canterbury were always behind the required run rate in the chase, especially against the steady bowling of all the bowlers used, with Josh Rooney with four overs, two maidens, eight runs and two wickets leading the way.

Robbie Mulvena had a good spell also, taking 1-25 off his 10 overs.

Most of the other bowlers also shared the spoils with a wicket each.

Wicketkeeper Matt Brown showed his class by taking two good catches standing up to the stumps and eventually South Canterbury won with Mid Canterbury still more than 70 runs short – finishing at 192-7.

These successful South Canterbury teams will now be hoping to continue this form on into their various tournaments over the next month.

Winning the toss Southland elected to bat in hot conditions. Kane and Osborne got the visiting side away to a good start and the first wicket did not fall until 47 runs were scored. Mollison, batting at 4, kept the runs coming, but was lacking in partners at the other end. Her 28no was the shinning light in what was a disappointing total when the last batsman was out with Southlands score at 112.

Bowling for South Canterbury, Amber Boyce (who has been named in the Canterbury Magicians squad) with two wickets, and young Chloe Austin 4-32 bowled well.

After the early loss of Lisa Grant (11), Boyce settled into her work, and taking a liking to the shortened boundaries, smashed a typically aggressive 85no. South Canterbury winning easily with the loss of only 2 wickets.

South Canterbury’s next game is against Dunedin in Timaru on 16th November.

If you notice any discrepencies please contact Graeme at South Canterbury Cricket on 686 3378 or use the contact page to email him.