South Canterbury suffered a frustrating one-wicket loss to Mid Canterbury yesterday in their final match of the South Island primary schools’ cricket tournament.
The result meant the team ended the competition in Ashburton with a two-win, two-loss record and a mid-table placing.
On another tough pitch to score runs on, the South Canterbury batsmen struggled to occupy the crease.
Five players made starts but none managed to get past 27. Alastair Harvey made the top score, while his brother William, made 25, and Matt McKenzie made 21.
South Canterbury coach John Threlkeld admitted the total was “20 or 30 runs short of where we wanted to be”.
The target still proved a challenging one for Mid Canterbury, as tight bowling and the odd wicket kept South Canterbury in with a chance.
William Carter proved difficult to get away, taking three for 24 from 15 overs, while Chris Hogan took two for 22 from his 10 overs.
Opening bowler Josh Mehrtens went for less than a run an over in his 10-over spell, finishing with figures of 1 for 8.
Despite the effort with the ball, South Canterbury came up short, as Mid Canterbury limped across the line, nine wickets down, in the second-to-last over of play.
Threlkeld said luck was not on their side.
“It’s a wee bit disappointing. If a few things had gone our way then it could have been different.
“It would have been nice to finish with three wins, but it wasn’t to be.”
Seven South Canterbury players were picked for a Southern Districts representative side to play matches later this month.
The Harvey brothers will be joined by Carter, McKenzie, Hogan, Mehrtens and Lawrence Darling in the team, while Caleb Grace made a Canterbury Districts side.
No Canterbury team was announced after Wellington withdrew from playing their scheduled matches against the side.