Craig Davies scores 154 not out in one day innings
A stunning 154 not out from Celtic opener Craig Davies was overshadowed by two lack-lustre batting performances from other teams during a rain-affected third round of the South Canterbury senior one-day cricket competition.
The Celtic captain, along with Roncalli opening bowler Ben Watson, starred on Saturday, where the gulf in the standard of play in the competition was clearly evident.
A nine-man Star were rolled for 39 by Roncalli College who needed just 12 overs to dismiss them.
Their match was transferred to Celtic Sports Grounds No 2 pitch after wet weather during the week made Mountainview High School unplayable.
Roncalli cruised to the target to win by seven wickets.
Meanwhile, Celtic amassed 276-4 against Waimate at Celtic Sports Ground No 1, on the back of Davies’ innings which included four fours and 10 sixes and came off just 135 balls.
With the long weekend Waimate were down on usual starters, but their bowling attack had no answers for a Celtic line-up which kept the runs flowing.
The hard-working Alan Reid picked up 2-42 from his nine overs, while Connor Farrell earned his first wicket in senior cricket, but it cost him 60 runs.
Davies was in devastating form, hitting balls over the ropes at will.
All but one of the Waimate bowlers were hit over the boundary at some point.
Davies was helped by being dropped by Mark Medlicott when he was approaching his half century.
Davies carried hs bat, and found some good support from Dan Laming 43, Sam Carlaw 28 not out and Jacob Naylor 24.
Waimate were never in the chase, and were on track to do worse that Star’s effort at 31-8 before being dismissed for 52. Only two Waimate batsmen made it into double figures, with Nathan Sheppard taking a bouncer to the helmet on his way to 12 and Glen Drake, struggling with an ankle injury, making 10 when coming in at No 10.
For Celtic James Blackstock took 4-20 from his five overs, while Grant Watt ended with figures of three for 10 from his eight overs.
Star’s one-day campaign appears in tatters after they were humiliated by Roncalli.
The schoolboys won the all important toss, and chose to bowl in muggy, overcast conditions. Roncalli were boosted by the arrival of their second English-import Tahir Afridi, a left-arm medium fast bowler, while Star were without several regulars and could not field a full side.
Watson and Afridi bowled superbly in tandem. Star never adjusted to the left-arm in-swing of Afridi while Watson bowled the ball in the right channels to prosper as a result.
Star failed to get on the front foot, and were often crease-bound which made them candidates for many leg-before-wicket appeals. Only the run out of Paul Arkinstall involved a Roncalli fielder in a wicket.
Star’s only positive was Hamish Dickson, who played solidly for 13 not out. He then continued that form with the ball as he took a wicket, but roncalli were never going to lose.
Star captain Phil McGregor said it was the worst performance he has been involved in during his four-year reign as captain.
The points were shared between Temuka and Timaru after the Temuka Oval was deemed too wet to play on before a ball had been bowled.