Ritchie Preston 105*
A typically cavalier 105 not out from Temuka’s Ritchie Preston saw his side home, while some last-wicket heroics helped Timaru to a rare win over Celtic, by one wicket, as senior 45-over cricket resumed on Saturday.
Timaru were 192-9 chasing Celtic’s 232.
A 42-run last wicket stand between Jordan Low (16 not out) and No 11 Vishal Saini (20 not out) including four boundaries, got the home team the win with three balls to spare.
Earlier, their Sri Lankan import Prabodha Arthavidu had set up the chase with 83 to continue his good form.
Meanwhile, Waimate beat Roncalli/Celtic by one run on the rain- affected runs method. The Roncalli/Celtic chase for 153 came to an end after 20 overs when rain stopped play.
The visitors were 66-3, while Waimate at the same stage were 67-4, which gave them the narrow win, thanks largely to Lachie Robertson’s 49.
Liam Beck and Grant Watt each took three wickets for Roncalli/Celtic.
Star posted a competitive 183-8, thanks to 54 from Terry McErlain and 49 from Danny Campbell. Four wickets from seamer Kevin Teahen kept the run-rate down.
However, Preston was in an unstoppable mood, hitting eight sixes and putting on 161 for the second wicket with Johnny Geddis (44).
The home team cruised to their target in the 27th over despite two wickets from Star’s Alex McDuff.
Celtic set Timaru more than five runs an over to get the win. While Celtic were without representative players Sam Carlaw, James Laming and James Blackstock, Timaru had to manage without opening bowler Hayden Leonard, wicketkeeper Tim Mackle and batsman Zane Sanders.
Half centuries from Brad Gilbert and Dan Laming looked to be good enough for Celtic until the heroics of the two overseas imports for Timaru gave them an unlikely victory.