Roncalli College made the perfect start to their debut season in the South Canterbury senior cricket competition, while Celtic sent out an early warning.
The one-day competition got the season underway, with the bowlers having the better of most of the games, and not just with ball-in-hand.
It was a day to bat first, as Roncalli secured an 83-run victory over Temuka, while Celtic humbled a depleted Star-side by 171 runs, and some last partnership heroics saw Waimate beat Timaru by 91 runs.
Roncalli’s win was sparked by some economical bowling, and four wickets by pace-bowler Matt Dorgan
With no bowler going for more than four runs an over, Roncalli were able strangle Temuka, who were chasing 198 for victory.
Dorgan ripped through the Temuka top-order, taking his first three wickets and helping reduce the home team to 29 for 4, which proved too much for the lower-order to fight-back from, with extras being their highest scorer with 21.
Roncalli’s total was set-up around 49 not-out from number five Nick Cahill, 30 from captain Jacob Naylor and 28 from opener Ben Simpson.
Dylan Lees picked up two wickets for Temuka, while Hayden Broker was the pick of the bowlers taking 1 for 19 from his seven overs, before suffering a calf injury.
Temuka captain Richie Preston said his side was confident they could chase the runs, but they never got any momentum in to the chase.
He said Willie Stone “looked the goods”, but like his teammates, he was unable to make a decent impression on the scoreboard.
Roncalli opening batsman Ants de Joux said the bowling and fielding effort were outstanding from his young side.
“We didn’t bowl anything short, and just bowled one side of the wicket.”
He said Matt Dorgan’s simple approach to his bowling-spell worked well.
“He just focused on bowling outside off-stump and they (Temuka) kept playing rash shots.”
Celtic were dominant in crushing Star, who were having their first game at their new home ground of Mountainview High School.
Every Celtic batsman made double figures, with Dan Laming making 63, hitting seven fours and two sixes.
Wicket-keeper Andy Scott offered good support, making 48.
Phil Arkinstall was the pick of the bowlers for Star, taking 3 for 31 from his nine overs.
Chasing 280 for the win, Star capitulated, losing wickets at regular intervals.
With the pace of Glenn Matthews, who took 2 for 24, and the persistence of Dan Laming, who finished a good all-round game with 2 for 29, Star could only muster 109 all out.
Number eight Mark Evans hit a late cameo of 37, to give Star some credibility, while Arkinstall made 25 at number three.
Star captain Phil McGregor said they were unable to slow Celtic’s run-rate, which was near five runs and over for most of the innings, while the batting was not good enough.
Celtic captain Craig Davies said the hard work of Dan Laming and Scott, in the middle overs, allowed them to lift the run-rate in the final overs.
“They just keep things ticking along in middle and allowed us to have a hit later on.”
He said he was pleased with the efforts of Matthews and young spinner Sam Carlaw.
A 67-run last wicket stand between Matt Devlin, who made a brisk 43, and Matthew Sew Hoy, who managed 14, propelled Waimate from 95 for 9 to 162 all out, against Timaru, on a rain-affected pitch at Ashbury Park.
The stand ruined the hard work of Timaru off-spinner Srinivas Sonnappa, who took four for 38 and Zane Sanders who snared 4 for 31.
A shower of rain in between innings made the total look better for Waimate, and Timaru struggled from the outset, as the ball continued to swing.
The Waimate bowlers tore through the Timaru batting line-up, as the hosts were bundled out for just 72.
Craig Booth managed 4 for 13, while James Devlin took three wickets and Alan Reid nabbed two.
Nick O’Connell, on senior debut, was the only Timaru batsman to make a decent score with 27.
Timaru captain Hayden Butler said the bowling should have been enough to win them the game.
“A lot of credit to (the last pair), they showed a lot of heart and deserved it.”
Waimate captain Jason Sew Hoy said he was delighted with the economy of his bowlers, and was always confident of getting the win, once they got the total.
Honours Board
Batting: Dan Laming 63
Bowling: Craig Booth 4 for 13, Srinivas Sonnappa 4 for 38, Zane Sanders 4 for 38, Matt Dorgan 4 for 33.