Willie Stone on the drive for Temuka while Waimate wicketkeeper Nathan Sew Hoy watches
Celtic crushed Star by eight wickets, while Temuka were just as dominant in dispatching Waimate by 125 runs in South Canterbury senior 45-over cricket on Saturday.
A convincing 82 not out from James Laming helped Celtic chase down Star’s 141 with 25 overs to spare at the Celtic Sports Grounds, while Ritchie Preston backed-up his Hawke Cup century a week ago with 74 as Temuka posted 215 for eight at Temuka Oval and then skittled Waimate for 90.
Star’s top-order, which has failed most of the season, managed to get off to a promising start against the defending champions despite the loss of Phil McGregor in the first over.
Henry Race (20) and Paul Arkinstall (35) added 66 for the second wicket, with both players quick to latch on to anything short.
The introduction of right-arm medium fast bowler James Blackstock proved the turning point.
After removing Race leg-before wicket, he went on to take three wickets in his third over, which left Star in trouble at 73 for five.
After their middle-order buckled, Star relied on Danny Campbell (27) to guide the tail to a respectable total.
Tyson Hamilton (15) and captain Jeremy Lane (13) hit quick-fire cameos but without a partnership of substance and Blackstock’s five for 29, Star could muster just 141.
Lane gave his team the perfect start when he had Celtic opener Tom Pavletich caught behind in the first over of the innings, but Star’s joy was short-lived.
Laming and Sam Carlaw (42) added 125 runs for the second wicket at better than a run-a-ball.
Had Carlaw not been limping with an ankle issue, he would have scored his half century and the match would have been finished sooner than the 21st over.
Temuka batted around the returning Preston and had plenty of runs on the board to defeat an under-underwelming Waimate team, who dropped catches in the field and never looked likely to trouble Temuka’s 215.
Johnny Geddis (25), Hayden Broker (28) and Willy Stone (27 not out) all offered support to Preston.
Connor Farrell was the pick of the Waimate bowlers taking four for 29 from nine overs.
Only a couple of players got starts for Waimate, with Jason Sew Hoy making 15 opening the batting while Ben Millar made 17 when the game was gone.
Kevin Kerse and Vaughan Tarrant each took three wickets, as the visitors were all out in 27 overs.