Celtic’s second-stringers did the job again, Temuka did enough to edge Roncalli College, and Star sunk to yet another low, as the senior one-day cricket competition returned on Saturday.

Star were bowled out for 31, in less than an hour at Knottingley Park, while Temuka beat Roncalli by four wickets at Temuka Oval and Celtic defeated Timaru by 29 runs at Ashbury Park 4.

Star’s season went from bad to worse on Saturday, as Waimate’s spearhead pace bowler Matthew Sew Hoy took six for 14 to dismiss the 10-men visiting team for 31, inside 13 overs.

Waimate chased the target down easily, with a returning Glenn Drake spending a couple of overs at the crease after a seven week injury layoff.

Not one Star batsman made double figures, and captain Phil McGregor said a combination of things lead to their embarrassment. “It was a mixture of good bowling, poor shot selection and the pitch.

“There’s not much more to say.” A terrific spell of bowling from Temuka’s Vaughan Tarrant was enough to give his team the edge over Roncalli.

Tarrant took four wickets for four runs from 6.5 overs to help dismiss Roncalli for 118.

Ryan de Joux made 26 at the top of the innings for the schoolboys, while Temuka’s opening bowler Nathan McNicol took three for 23.

In reply, former Northern Districts batsman Nick Horsley hit 29, but it was a match dominated by extras.

Temuka conceded 34, while Roncalli gave away 33 to inflate both totals.Temuka chased down the target with 13 overs to spare.

Ben Watson was the pick of the Roncalli bowlers with three for 28.

Celtic and Timaru met for the third time in a month and again it was Celtic who got the better of the situation.

Former South Canterbury player Jacob Naylor ensured he would remain in the sights of the representative selectors with 63, while Andy Scott made 48 to get the defending champions to 219 for eight from their 45 overs, despite being depleted by defections for the Hawke Cup game against Mid Canterbury.

Abhishek Baadkar, Brad Leonard, Josh Smallridge and captain Hayden Butler each took two wickets. The Timaru run-chase was highlighted by many starts, but no-one managed a match-changing innings.

Butler said his team was always chasing the game, despite a spirited 48 from Leonard.

Timaru were eventually bowled out for 190 in the 44th over.

“There are plenty of guys getting starts but we need to get at least one big score.

“There are still things to learn,” Butler said.

Opener Gerald Piddock had to bat at No11 after suffering a fractured finger.

Scoreboard

Glen Drake

Waimate cricket player Glen Drake is about to receive a baptism of fire, but faces his own fitness test first.

The 17-year-old has been selected for the Willows Cricket Club team of emerging secondary school players which will go on tour of Sri Lanka.

Drake was surprised to get a call from coach Paul McEwan telling him he was selected for the tour which begins in April, as he battles fitness after a long injury lay-off.

Drake was part  of a Canterbury Academy squad during the winter as an emerging player, and has played age-group cricket for Canterbury this season.

Drake’s season has been interrupted by a “small tear” in his left shoulder. This injury has kept him out of the Waimate senior team for the past six weeks.

The handy top-order batsman and off-spin bowler will make his return to senior cricket today, after playing a game for Waimate High School first XI last week.

“I’ve got a bit of work to do, but it will be good to see where I’m at (physically).”

Glen Drake batting for Waimate

Drake said training for the hot, humid conditions of Sri Lanka and the tough opposition were the most daunting aspects to think about before the trip.

“The training will be pretty important because it’s going to be pretty hot over there.”

He said the matches would likely  consist of Sri Lankan First XI High School teams and regional age-group sides.

“I’ve been told the quality of players, especially the spinners, is quite good so maybe I’ll struggle with my spin bowling, but I’m hoping my batting will go alright.”

He said adjusting to the low bouncing wickets, and dry nature of the outfields would be a mission in itself.

Drake said the senior match today would be a good indicator on how he is feeling and he hoped his shoulder would not give him problems and keep him away from the bowling crease.

The tour will begin on April 3rd and lasts three weeks.

South Canterbury Development team
Practise Sunday Feb 26^th 10 30am at Blanchard Centre
Anyone unavailable contact Ants de Joux 027 2294336

Todd Phillips
Stuart Williams
Conor Anderson
Cameron Lyon
Cullen Towler
Callum Crawford
Daniel Goodwin
Ed Heenan
Ben Stayt
Hamish Booth
Isaac Kinney
Eamon Bolton
Daniel Fitzgerald
Hamish Stowell

The big names are back, but the focus remains on the batting for the South Canterbury Hawke Cup team to face Mid Canterbury at Aorangi Oval on Saturday.

Coach Bruce Carlaw, assistant coach Robin Beeby and manager John Davies have named their strongest possible lineup for the dead rubber match.

Celtic’s Dan Laming, Craig Davies, Glenn Matthews and Sam Carlaw all return after missing the 10-wicket loss to Southland a week ago.

Celtic team-mate Jeremy Liddy was not picked because of injury, though he did hobble through the Tweedy Cup win over Timaru over the past two days.

Timaru’s Dhananjaya Murari retains his place from the Southland match, while Ben Watson is the unlucky fast bowler to miss out.

Captain Richie Preston, who was struck down by illness on the eve of the Southland match which did not allow him to travel to Invercargill, will also return.

Christchurch-based Ben McCord is unavailable because of other playing commitments

Bruce Carlaw said they wanted to remain committed to playing the best possible team despite there being no chance of a Hawke Cup challenge this season.

“When I used to play, I can’t remember ever playing for the [Hawke Cup] challenge.

“I just wanted to test myself against other provinces and I think this team is like that too.”

He said Murari had held his place thanks to the 77 he scored in the Tweedy Cup final against Celtic.

It was an innings Bruce Carlaw described as “impressive”.

South Canterbury could only muster 123 and 119 in their two efforts against Southland, and Bruce Carlaw said the coaching staff were aware the weakness was batting.

“We’re having to make sure we can bat down to No10.

“The top batsmen aren’t being pressurised at senior level, so when they make the step-up to Hawke Cup, they are finding it tough.

English import Tahir Afridi will again be used in an all-rounder role.

The left-arm seamer impressed with 69 in tough conditions against Southland a week ago.

He said they would try a Friday night training at the Blanchard Centre.

He said the 6.30pm training would be a lighter session than usual.

South Canterbury squad to face Mid Canterbury:

Richie Preston (c), Craig Davies, Bill Walsh, Dhananjaya Murari, Dan Laming, Glenn Matthews, Willie Wright (wk), Mark Tutton, Tahir Afridi, Sam Carlaw, Kevin Teahen, Craig Hinton.

Celtic have claimed the Tweedy Cup senior two-day cricket competition with a dominant second day, set up by their captain Craig Davies.

Top Left: Brad Gilbert, James Blackstock, Jeremy Liddy, Glenn Matthews, Nick Cahill, Sam Carlaw, Jacob Naylor. Bottom Left: Dan Laming, Willie Scott, Craig Davies (c), Mark Tutton. (Image courtesy of GreenTurfCam)

Day Two Report:

He was at his punishing best as he made 170 to ensure his side would not relinquish the first innings advantage they had gained at Aorangi Oval.

Celtic amassed 382 for eight declared before stumps were mercifully drawn on a Timaru team who looked tired by the end of the game.

The turning point of the match was in the final hour of day one, when Celtic took five wickets for 31.

They removed Dhananjaya Murari for 77 and Timaru then lost their way.

The carnage reduced Timaru to 145 for seven at the close, when they were at 114 for two chasing Celtic’s first innings of 258 all out.

The Celtic bowlers were helped by two run outs to quickly wrap-up the Timaru first innings for 175 early on day two to earn an 83-run lead.

Celtic then set about batting all day, breaking the spirit of Timaru, who were not able to make the quick in-roads they needed.

Davies innings was one of initial survival as he and Nick Cahill (34) saw off the threat of the new ball which caused so much damage on day one.

They had an opening partnership of 109 which effectively ended the match as a contest.

With Timaru no chance of victory, Davies piled on the runs and he had many supporting acts.

Dan Laming (52), Jacob Naylor (46) and Sam Carlaw (45) all scored their runs in double-quick time, before a flurry of late wickets fell as Celtic looked to hit sixes.

Left-arm spinner Zane Sanders was the main benefactor as he picked up five for 110.

It was a long way from the opening overs of the match where Hayden Leonard had put Timaru on top in seam-friendly conditions.

He reduced Celtic to seven for two, before Mark Tutton (73) and Davies (53) got them through to a strong first innings total.

Day One Report:  Celtic gain control of two-day club final

Celtic claimed five Timaru wickets in the final hour of play to gain control after day one of the Tweedy Cup senior two-day cricket final at Aorangi Oval.

Timaru were cruising at 114 for two after 26 overs, in reply to Celtic’s 258 all out, but lost five for 31 to end the day at 145 for seven.

Timaru elected to field at the start of the day with a greener than usual Aorangi Oval pitch and the overnight rain no doubt the main motivators behind the decision.

It paid dividends early as Hayden Leonard got plenty of seam and swing assistance to reduce Celtic to seven for two.

Celtic captain Craig Davies held firm in the tough conditions, as he showed patience on his way to 53.

When he was dismissed, Mark Tutton carried on his good work.

Tutton made 73, and was punishing on anything short.

Celtic scored at a healthy run-rate throughout, but every time they looked likely to build a big partnership, Timaru took a wicket.

Hayden Leonard finished with three for 62, while the left-arm spin of Zane Sanders claimed two late wickets.

Wicket-keeper Kane Whiteley took four catches.

Timaru lost Gerald Piddock in the second over to the bowling of Dan Laming, which saw Dhananjaya Murari come to the crease.

Murari was strong through the off-side and while he played some rash shots, he mixed them with powerful hitting, including two sixes over cover which ended with him taking one hand off the bat.

Timaru, under his guidence, had made it to 112 for two before Murari was given out caught behind off James Blackstock, just as the final hour of play started, The wicket started a middle-order collapse.

On a day where the seam bowlers had dominated, South Canterbury’s top spinner Sam Carlaw showed his value by taking two wickets late in the day while strangling the Timaru run-rate.

Much will rest with Kris Howes (19 not out), if Timaru are to get close to Celtic’s first innings total when play resumes at 12pm.

Scoreboard

Timaru have a second chance to stop Celtic’s charge to a three-peat of senior cricket titles this season, when the two sides square-off in the two-day Tweedy Cup final at Aorangi Oval starting today.

Timaru captain Hayden Butler certainly has the attention of Celtic after claiming before the Twenty20 (T20) final last month “we’re going to win and people just have to deal with that”.

They ended up losing by 60 runs.

Butler said the comment was “gamesmanship” on his part, and he took a more diplomatic approach this time around.

“They [Celtic] have been the benchmark all season, and we’re going to have to take every opportunity we get if we are going to beat them.”

Celtic captain Craig Davies said Butler’s comments two weeks ago had not been forgotten.

“When we read those comments in the paper, we were all pretty fired-up to get to the ground and prove something.”

Celtic’s only blemish this season was a round-robin T20 loss to Timaru, and the last time the two teams met in the Tweedy Cup, Celtic dismissed Timaru for 48 in the second innings on their way to a 218-run victory at Ashbury Park.

Davies said his team had spoken about wanting to win all three competitions, but their first win in a Tweedy Cup final in two years was their only focus this weekend.

Celtic will have a vastly experienced team, full of South Canterbury Hawke Cup players, even without James Laming, Willie Wright and the injured Grant Watt.

It is a different story for Timaru, with more than half their team experiencing a Tweedy Cup final for the first time.

Not even Butler was a part of their last final appearance in 2007-2008 when they beat Temuka on a first innings result.

A change in the rules means the final will not be played under the Hawke Cup format and the points-based system that has been in effect for the entire season will be used.

It means a poor start with bat or ball can be overcome.

Josh Smallridge is one player for Timaru likely to play a key role. In the final against Temuka, he batted at 11 and did not bowl.

Today, he could open the batting and take the new ball.

“He is a talented sportsman,” Butler said. “He came to cricket very late, but he has improved every season.”

The first ball will be bowled at midday. For updates during the day visit http://www.facebook.com/timaruherald

Zane Sanders batting against Southland during the Hawke Cup match in Invercargill.

South Canterbury’s stand-in coach John Davies said hopes of a Hawke Cup challenge this season had “just about gone” after a 10-wicket defeat to Southland in a second-round elimination cricket match in Invercargill, yesterday.

The result means Southland have all but wrapped up the southern zone challenge thanks to three outright wins this season.

A disrupted buildup was continued for South Canterbury when captain Richie Preston was unable to make the trip south due to illness. His absence further compounded the lack of depth in the team, with five senior players and the two coaches choosing to attend a wedding on Saturday, instead of playing in the match.

The reshuffled top order failed to fire after being asked to bat in bowler-friendly conditions by Southland captain Jason Domigan. Davies said the overcast, drizzly conditions on Saturday, coupled with a pitch which had a green tinge meant the ball was “doing plenty”.

South Canterbury soon found themselves at 23 for five.

Southland’s Ronnie Kotcamp took the first three wickets to fall on his way to five for 32.

Tahir Afridi (69 not out) was the only batsman to tame the conditions and the Southland bowlers.

He found slight support from debutant Zane Sanders (20), as the pair shared in a 47-run sixth-wicket partnership.

Davies said Afridi flourished because he was aggressive with his stroke-making.

“He really went for his shots if the ball was outside the off-stump.

“Some of the other guys tried to be defensive and it didn’t work.”

Southland made it to 81 for four by stumps on the first day, with Domigan 32 not out.

Dropped catches haunted South Canterbury on day two yesterday.

Davies said they could have had Southland 111 for eight had they not grassed at least four chances.

Rhuebyn Pratley topscored for Southland with 42, while Domigan made 39.

Southland made 186 all out, a lead of 63 runs.

Temuka veteran Kevin Teahen used his nagging medium pace to great effect in ideal conditions.

He took four for 44 from 14.4 overs, while Craig Hinton took three wickets.

South Canterbury’s batting woes did not improve in their second innings.

They were 52 for two before they lost six for 30 in the middle stages.

At 82 for eight, Davies admitted the match was over as a contest.

Stand-in captain Bill Walsh made 18, while Willie Wright top-scored with 29.

Mark Beer took five for 35 for Southland, as South Canterbury were skittled for 113.

Southland raced to their small target without the loss of a wicket, reaching 57 for none in 7.3 overs.

Davies said he was happy with how all of the bowlers performed in the first innings.

He said he hoped the experience would be good for some of the younger players as they looked to force their way in to the regular team

South Canterbury’s next match is against Mid-Canterbury at Aorangi Oval on February 18 and 19.

Scoresheet

Celtic and Timaru will meet in another final this season after earning outright victories in the final round of senior cricket’s two-day competition.

Celtic were already assured a spot in the final, but essentially ended Star’s hopes when they beat them by six wickets at Mountainview High School on Saturday.

Timaru took advantage of their strong position after day one to beat Waimate by 36 runs at Knottingley Park, ensuring they will meet Celtic in the two-day final, just a fortnight after losing to them in the Twenty20 showpiece.

At Ashbury Park 6, Roncalli College managed a four-wicket win over Temuka, thanks to a half-century by Henry Race, and some probing bowling from Daniel Dorgan and captain Tom Pavletich.

Star started the day at 136 for two, with Danny Campbell and Paul Arkinstall sharing in an unbeaten century stand.

Celtic were fielding a second-string team due to a wedding and Hawke Cup duty, only James Blackstock returning from the previous week.

Campbell added just four to his overnight score before becoming one of Matthew Dorgan’s three victims.

Star struggled to deal with the short-ball early, and when Dorgan got a ball to bounce a bit higher than usual to take Arkinstall’s glove on the way to wicket-keeper Neil de Joux, Star slumped to 210 for seven, with Arkinstall dismissed for 85 and the team’s lead at just over 50.

A gritty half-century stand by Julian Blanchard (29) and Chris Hyde (26) pushed the lead beyond 100, but Celtic dismissed them for 277, ahead by 126.

With most of the Celtic batsmen coming off a diet of Twenty20 cricket, they wasted little time trying to score runs.

It was former Roncalli College fill-in Brad Gilbert (53) who prospered.

He punished anything short and down leg-side as he reached his 50 by hitting the winning runs.

Waimate surrendered a 58-run first-innings lead to Timaru, but did well to bowl them out for 124 on day two.

Justin Thompson was the pick of the Waimate bowlers with three for 22 from eight overs, while Jason Sew Hoy wrapped up the tail with three for five from 3.1 overs as Timaru lost their last four wickets for no runs.

It left Waimate needing 183 for victory, but a sizeable contribution eluded them in tough batting conditions.

Gary Muff and Regan Tate both managed 29, but at 93 for six, the tail was left to do too much and they were dismissed for 146.

Abhishek Baadkar and Brad Leonard each took three wickets for Timaru.

Roncalli were missing overseas professionals Tahir Afridi and Ed Kilbee for the second day against Temuka.

It was half-centuries from Barry Ward (53 not out) in the first innings and Henry Race 54 in the second which got them home. The bowling has been strong for Roncalli all season, and again Daniel Dorgan impressed with four for 39 to restrict Temuka to 150 in their second innings, leaving Roncalli 123 for maximum points.

Harry Millar (21) gave Race the support he needed to guide the team to the tricky, low total.

Les Humphris got two wickets and a runout early, but the Roncalli middle order held firm.

The two-day final will be played at Aorangi Oval next weekend, the one-day competition will return the following weekend.

Weekend Scoresheets

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

Southland are a matter of 43 runs away from first innings points against South Canterbury after a low-scoring day one of the two-day Hawke Cup showdown at Queens Park in Invercargill today.

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*)