Timaru wicket keeper Sasindu Nanayakkaramade his first century in club cricket with 114 not out against Star, to help his side to an easy victory
A superb century to Sasindu Nanayakkara saw Timaru take maximum points against Star in the modified senior cricket competition.
Opener Nanayakkara carried his bat through the innings to end 114 not out, with Timaru declaring at 249-3.
Nanayakkara stroked 13 fours and looked totally in control after being given a couple of chances earlier on.
It was the wicketkeeper’s first century in club cricket, in his second season with Timaru.
Nanayakkara was well supported by fellow Sri Lankans Supeshala Jayathilake and Prabodha Arthavidu.
Arthavidu made 46 and Jayathilake a quick fire 81, including three sixes and 10 fours, as he dispatched the Star bowlers around the park.
Star captain Craig Hinton elected to bowl after winning the toss and Timaru were 1-1, after Tyler Cox threw down the stumps for an excellent run out.
After that it was one way traffic with the batsmen particularly tough on former South Canterbury off-spinner Todd Elliotte, who took 1-64 off 8.4 overs after his first over went for 16.
They also took the long handle to Logan Hay who went for 58 off his seven overs.
Star never really got going in reply to be all out for 125 in the 38th over.
Only Daniel Campbell, 44, and Cox, 25, showed any real mettle.
Medium pacer Dinesh de Silva did the damage with the ball claiming 4-25 as he ripped out the middle order while Sam Wilson nabbed both openers with a handy spell.
Nanayakkara was delighted to make three figures.
“I am very happy, it is special when you make a hundred. It was a very good pitch and I had good support.”
His previous highest score was 68.
The win lifts Timaru into second place behind Celtic, who also cruised to an easy win over Pleasant Point.
Pleasant Point’s Stan Mair grabbed two wickets against Celtic but it made little difference after their batsmen failed to produce a decent target.
Playing at home Pleasant Point struggled to 115 all out and it was never going to put any pressure on the competition leaders.
Opener Adam Beck scored 36 while Tom Costley finished 24 not out but there were no partnerships of any substance, apart from Beck made 36 with his brother Liam.
For Celtic Dan Laming, Glenn Matthews and Sam Carlaw did the damage with the ball.
Laming ended with 4-28 off 13 overs and Matthews 3-28 off nine overs while Carlaw spun his way to 2-11 off 10 overs, amongst some pretty ordinary batting.
Celtic then cruised past the total four down, with opener Jacob Naylor making 58 not out while Willie Wright back up his century from last week with 24.
Carlaw also proved handy with the bat scoring 29 not out.
The loss means Pleasant Point has yet to register a point in the modified format.
There is however a good battle going on behind Celtic for a spot in the preliminary final and with nine points on offer for an outright win it could go down to the final round.
Points: Celtic 27, Timaru 13, Star 9, Temuka 5, Pleasant Point 0.
Full Scorecards: Pleasant Point v Celtic :: Timaru v Star