TOP CLASS: Celtic batsman Craig Davies makes batting look easy on the Ashbury Park 6 wicket with an unbeaten 104 on the first day of Celtic's two-day club cricket match against Roncalli College, on Saturday.
Celtic’s Craig Davies hit an unbeaten 104, as the defending champions took first innings points against Roncalli College at Ashbury Park 6, on Saturday.
Temuka also wrapped up first innings points against Star, at Mountainview High School.
Temuka rolled the home side for 127, and then managed a quick-fire 207 all out in reply.
Timaru fought back from early trouble, and are on the verge of taking first innings points against Waimate at Ashbury Park 4.
Waimate managed 162 for 8 on an unpredictable wicket, but a strong, unbeaten sixth-wicket partnership left Timaru requiring 35 runs from 10 overs for first innings points.
The Celtic openers of Davies and Jeremy Liddy made batting look easy, despite Roncalli travelling at just over two runs an over for their first innings as they compiled a lowly 111 for 8 from their mandatory 50-over first innings.
Roncalli opener Ben Simpson was the only player to make a decent score, managing 33 before he became one of Sam Carlaw’s five victims.
The Celtic spinner dominated the innings, taking five for 31 from 19 overs.
Davies and Liddy had no problems accelerating their run-rate to end the first day in a strong position.
After 29 overs, and with a lead of 74, they declared.
Liddy played the anchor-role in the 185-run opening stand, with an unbeaten 78.
Roncalli survived the 16 overs until stumps, and finished at 36 without loss.
Timaru are on the verge of an unlikely first innings win against Waimate. The home side looked down-and-out at 40 for five, but an unbeaten 87-run, sixth-wicket partnership between Srinivas KS, on 61 and Luke Taylor on 21, has seen them gain the upper-hand.
Earlier, Waimate had to fight hard to score runs, on a pitch with popping bounce and sharp turn.
Teenager Glen Drake applied himself for a gritty 58, while Matt Devlin struck 36 from 37 balls to lift the run-rate, near the end.
Sam Porter was the pick of the Timaru bowlers with three for 16 from his 10 overs.
The ever reliable Alan Reid then dismantled the Timaru top-order, with three quick wickets, as most of the Timaru batsman failed.
However, stand-in captain Srinivas KS dug in and he found support from No7 batsman Taylor, and they will be confident of gaining first innings points on day two.
Star’s up-and-down season with the bat continued, as they were skittled for just 127, at home, against Temuka.
The home team’s middle-order looked to mount a comeback – George Harper managing another solid score of 35, while Danny Campbell scored 25, but when both batsmen were dismissed, the resistance wilted.
All the Temuka bowlers got amongst the wickets.
Kevin Teahen took two for 30, while Hayden Broker took three wickets for two runs from three and a half overs, to mop up the tail.
Temuka did not hang around in pursuit of the total.
Their top seven batsmen all made double figures, as the run-rate breezed above five runs an over throughout. Les Humphris top-scored with 42, while opener Richie Preston and Dylan Lees were both dismissed for 32.
Temuka earned a sizeable 80-run first innings lead after being dismissed for 207, just before stumps.
HONOURS BOARD
Craig Davies 104*
Jeremy Liddy 78*
Glen Drake 58
Srinivas KS 61*
Sam Carlaw 5 for 31