MAKING CLUB HISTORY: Dan Laming.
Dan Laming became the highest run scorer in Celtic club history as he helped his team to a six-run win over Timaru in the opening round of the senior Twenty20 cricket competition.
Laming surpassed Bruce Carlaw’s long-standing record, on his way to 63, as he and Sam Carlaw (61) shared in an unbroken third-wicket stand of 136 runs.
Celtic again flexed their batting muscles.
After Timaru captain Zane Sanders removed both the openers in consecutive balls, with the score on 26, Laming and Carlaw settled in.
They increased the run rate throughout and went at better than 10 an over for the remaining five overs which helped them post 162.
A stirring 56 from 45 balls from opener Josh Smallridge, and 36 from Prabodha Arthavidu, had Timaru in touch but both players got out at crucial times when the required rate began to jump.
The incoming batsmen struggled to find the middle of the bat despite a handy contribution from Josh Dick.
The home team needed 25 off the last over but fell short.
There was only one innings of substance in the match between Roncalli/Celtic and Temuka at Ashbury Park 6.
Roncalli Celtic batsman Liam Beck smashed 63, which included two fours and five sixes with help of a strong easterly breeze.
He was the main contributor as the hosts amassed 115 from 20 overs.
Once Beck was removed in the 15th over with the score on 95, the remaining batsmen struggled to get runs. However, it was the Magpies’ batting depth that was exposed.
Opener Willy Stone made 20 but that was the best they could muster.
The Temuka batsmen struggled to find the boundary and were strangled by some tight bowling from Roncalli/Celtic.
Ben Simpson’s spinners went for six runs during his four-over spell and he also grabbed a wicket.
Waimate cruised to victory by seven wickets over a Star side that showed little fight with the bat at Knottingley Park.
The visitors mustered 97 for nine on the back of 33 from the returning Paul Arkinstall.
Connor Farrell took 3-22 for the home team, while Steve Ohile took two wickets.
Waimate chased down the total with 19 balls to spare thanks to an unbeaten 40 from Sam Porter and 33 from opener Nathan Sew Hoy.