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

After a delayed start because of rain early in the day Southland won the toss and sent South Canterbury in on a wicket with tinge more green to it than usual at Queens Park and Southland immediately made inroads.

Veteran Ronnie Kotcamp bowled a fiery first spell and found back-up in the form of young left-armer Hamish Cooke to have South Canterbury reeling at five for 23 at one stage.

Tahir Afridi 69 not out for South Canterbury

However in Tahir Afridi South Canterbury found a much needed shot maker as his unbeaten 69 from 117 balls as he saved his team from complete embarrassment and give his team’s bowers something to bowl at as they got through to 123.

South Canterbury made immediate inroads into the Southland batting lineup as Simon Wadworth, Hamish O’Brien, Geoff Folster and Hamish Skelt all went relatively cheaply.

Opening batsman and skipper Jason Domigan however rode his luck somewhat and showed some fight for his team finishing the day’s play unbeaten on 32.

At the other end was Callum Johnstone who was not out 11 while also showing plenty of determination and looking comfortable in his debut game for Southland at Hawke Cup level.

Southland finished the day 81 for four still with some work to do for first innings points but certainly in the better position.

Play will start at 10am on Sunday morning.

South Canterbury 123 all out (Tahir Afridi 69*, Zane Sanders 20; Ronnie Kotcamp 19-9-32-5, Hamish Cooke 13.2-5-32-3, Callum Johnstone 6-2-10-1, Jason Domigan 5-3-9-1), Southland 81 for four (Jason Domigan 32*)

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.

FINDING FORM: Star's Danny Campbell hit 53 not out against Celtic at Mountainview High School on Saturday.

Star and Timaru’s battle to make the final of the South Canterbury senior two-day cricket competition final will be decided on the last day of the regular season on Saturday.

Both teams are chasing valuable competition points to earn the right to face Celtic in the decider in two weeks.

Star, who at present sit second, fell to pieces with the bat yet again in the first innings against Celtic at Mountainview High School.

Dan Laming’s five for 23 helped skittle the home team for just 74 in reply to Celtic’s first innings of 225 all out.

However, a fightback led by unbeaten half-centuries from Danny Campbell (53 not out) and Paul Arkinstall (52 not out) left Star 16 runs behind Celtic’s first innings with eight second innings wickets remaining, after they were forced to follow-on.

Celtic will be severely under-strength for day two of the match, with more than half their first-string line-up likely to be missing due to a wedding or Hawke Cup commitments, which could produce an opening for Star to get an unlikely outright victory.

Celtic’s first innings was set up by a whirlwind knock of 81 from Glenn Matthews.

Celtic were in trouble at 53 for four, thanks largely to the return of South Canterbury representative Craig Hinton, who bent his back with the new ball to unsettle the batsmen.

Matthews’ innings, which included nine sixes, took the advantage away from Star.

However, he threw away a century, when he became one of three surprise wickets for Star captain Phil McGregor.

A rare visitor to the bowling crease, the opening batsman took three for 36 with his left arm spinners, to outshine Hinton’s three for 45.

Star collapsed under the pressure of the medium-pace bowling of Laming, who produced eight maidens in 12 overs on his way to a five-wicket bag.

However, the second innings effort saw Campbell and Arkinstall pepper the short square boundary on one-side of the wicket as they produced an unbeaten stand of 107 for the third wicket. Star will resume at 136 for two.

Timaru did everything they needed too on day one against Waimate at Knottingley Park.

They gained first innings points when they bowled the home team out for 121 in reply to their 179.

All the batsmen made starts for Timaru in the first innings.

Opener Gerald Piddock top scored with 38, and Zane Sanders (27), Sam Porter (24 not out) and captain Hayden Butler (20), also contributed.

Waimate’s best effort came from captain Jason Sew Hoy (46), but it was the left-arm spin of Sanders, who took five for 35, which kept Timaru in control in sticky conditions.

Timaru will resume at 71 for two, a lead of 129 runs.

Roncalli College were in a strong position to gain first innings points against Temuka at Ashbury Park 6.

Tahir Afridi, Roncalli’s opening bowler, grabbed five for 38 to take his season-leading total to 40 wickets in one-day and two-day competitions.

Temuka’s Tom McKnight hit a gutsy 50, but his side were dismissed for 154. Adrian Cunningham (33) made the only other notable contribution.

Afridi received support with the bowling from Henry Race, who snared four for 33.

At stumps, Roncalli were 123 for six.

Afridi had top-scored so far with 24, while Ed Kilbee added 20.

They will have 16 overs to get 32 runs for first innings points when the match resumes.

Scoresheet

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

Placemakers Twenty20 Shield Final at Aorangi Oval

A sublime 84 from Celtic captain Craig Davies was overshadowed by Timaru losing an over in their run-chase due to a slow over-rate and then an automated sprinkler system coming on during the innings break.

Celtic amassed 189 for five in their 20 overs, on the back of cameo efforts with the bat and hard-running between the wickets.

Timaru could only muster 129 all out in 15.2 overs, not helped by three bizarre run outs which all resulted from poor communication, rather than aggressive running.

Davies hit nine fours in his knock which was supported by a 73-run fourth wicket partnership with Mark Tutton who made 39.

The pair ran hard between the wickets, turning ones into twos and putting away the bad delivery when it arrived.

Timaru struggled with their rhythm at the bowling crease, with boundaries off almost every over of the innings.

CAMEO: Celtic's Glenn Matthews works a delivery to the on-side, but this one didn't make the hockey turf like previously

Glenn Matthews was promoted up the order to No3 and hit two sixes off the bowling of Butler on his way to 25. One went into the Wet Dressed hockey turf, which caused a delay in the game.

Butler had the last laugh, getting him caught at square-leg.

After Tutton was dismissed, Davies pushed to get an unlikely 100.

He took 16 runs from the final Zane Sanders over, but was eventually caught off the bowling of Kris Howes trying to hit a six.

Sanders finished with two for 38 from four, but the spinner bowled too many short and leg-side deliveries to be a threat.

Fast bowler Abhishek Baadkar bowled without luck to finish with no wicket for 22 from his four overs.

After a 25-minute delay to dry the pitch after the sprinkler incident, Timaru started their chase of 190 in 19 overs.

A fired-up Josh Smallridge wasted little time in reaching double-figures with some lusty hitting off Matthews’ opening over.

When he departed for 16, the run outs started.

Dhananjaya Murari may have top-scored with 27, but his poor communication cost Timaru valuable wickets.

Josh Dick was clearly frustrated coming off the ground after being run-out for zero at the hands of Murari.

He was one of three batsmen to be run-out in the innings.

Timaru had a cameo from Sanders of 25, but they lacked the one big innings or major partnership to threaten the total.

Veteran Celtic medium pacer, Dan Laming, used all of his experience to grab four for 21 from 3.2 overs, while James Blackstock took two for 27 from four overs in support to bowl Timaru out in the 16th over.

Davies said his innings came down to him showing patience at the crease.

He said the pressure his team were able to put on the Timaru boundary-riders was crucial in scoring a big total.

Butler said Celtic out-fielded his team and were too good in their running between the wickets.

Scoreboard

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.

• Feb 13th trials for year 7and 8 from 6pm-8pm
• Feb 14th trials for year 5 and 6 from 6pm-8pm

Please contact the office (686 3377) if you have any questions