CHARGING IN: Roncalli's Daniel Dorgan delivers another ball to Waimate's Alan Reid, during their senior two-day senior cricket match, at Ashbury Park. Non-striker Nathan Sew Hoy, backs-up for a possible run.
Destructive bowling and gritty half-centuries shaped the opening day of the South Canterbury senior two-day cricket competition.
Waimate have the upper hand against Roncalli College, thanks to the all-round effort of Alan Reid on Saturday.
Reid opened both the bowling and the batting at a bitterly cold Ashbury Park, taking four for 70 from 18 overs with the ball and then scoring 60 not out with the bat, leaving Waimate requiring 34 runs from six overs to get first innings points.
Roncalli captain Jacob Naylor won the toss and chose to bat on what looked like a perfect day to be a seam bowler, with both the overhead and pitch conditions conducive to movement.
Roncalli struggled early, and were going at one run an over for the first 15 overs.
They were also losing wickets, until Naylor and opener Alex Brooks combined for a 46-run, third-wicket stand.
Brooks went for 30 but Naylor carried on, looking fluent, before he missed a straight ball from Reid two short of his half century.
Needing to lift the run rate, it was up to Bruce Carlaw to find the boundary.
In need of a runner due to an injured hamstring, Carlaw carved the Waimate attack to all parts in an innings of 60, which included nine fours and two sixes.
The 175 required looked like a stiff target when Roncalli’s compulsory declaration came at the end of 50 overs.
Waimate stayed focused, and while Reid was dropped at first slip early, he calmly made his 50, while receiving support from Murray Prattley, who found the rope regularly until he was dismissed on the second-last ball of the day for 27 to give Roncalli hope of snaring first innings points next week.
Four of Roncalli’s six bowlers took a wicket, and even Carlaw managed a recovery from his hamstring problem to bowl seven overs, without success.
Timaru found themselves in a strong position for the first time this season, thanks to five for 35 from opening bowler Hayden Leonard.
He ripped through the Star line-up to reduce them to 118 for 8 at stumps, still 94 runs away from gaining first innings points.
Earlier, Timaru had taken advantage of more than half a dozen dropped catches from Star to make 211 for nine from their 50 overs.
Nick O’Connell made 53 for Timaru, while captain Hayden Butler scored 48.
Star’s Craig Hinton finished with 5 for 59, but was frustrated by the numerous catches dropped from his bowling.
Hayden Broker took five wickets for Temuka against Celtic, but not before the Celtic top-order had all made starts in their 262 for nine from 50 overs.
Broker’s five for 46, was over-shadowed by South Canterbury captain Dan Laming’s 70.
Temuka’s reply was a stuttering one as they limped to 111 for 6 at the close of play.
Laming was again the difference taking three for 25, while Jeremy Liddy was miserly, ending with figures of nine overs, eight maidens, two runs, two wickets.
Broker was the only one to show resistance for the home team, as he remained 20 not out.