South Canterbury’s player-coach Nick Horsley looks back after chopping one on to his stumps against Mid Canterbury.
South Canterbury captain Sam Carlaw and debutant Stanley Mair combined to sensationally lead their side to a four-wicket outright win against Mid Canterbury in a Hawke Cup southern zone elimination match at Aorangi Oval in Timaru.
Mair took 5-40 in the second innings to help skittle Mid Canterbury before Carlaw’s unbeaten 61 led the side home.
After Mid Canterbury scored 264 in the first innings they rolled South Canterbury for a paltry 129.
Adam Beck made 29 and Nick Horsley 48 in the home side’s first turn at bat.
Mid Canterbury then set about quick runs to provide South Canterbury with a challenging total, but they were bundled out for 112 in just 33.3 overs.
In the South Canterbury second innings, Carlaw received superb support from Prabodha Arthavidu with (67) while Adam Beck (29) Nick Horsley (29) Glen Drake (20) and Willie Wright (27 not out) all provided the side with handy contributions as they comfortably chased down their victory target.
They ended on 250-6 with four overs to spare.
Their target was reduced thanks to a quality spell of bowling from Mair.
The right arm fast medium bowler produced a superb second innings spell picking up five crucial wickets.
Two of the scalps were bowled while teammates Willie Wright, Jack Harper and Glen Drake snaffled some brilliant catches.
Carlaw said it was a great result.
“We are definitely happy with the win. We were shellshocked a bit after that first innings effort and wanted to go out there and do well and the boys did that in the second innings.”
Carlaw said it was crucial for himself to spend some time in the middle.
“I hadn’t had a lot of time in the centre lately and it was good to spend some time out there against some good bowlers and get a few out of the middle.”
He was full of praise for his bowlers.
“Hinto [Craig Hinton] was outstanding in the first innings and then Stanley produced a fabulous spell this morning to put us in a position to go for the outright.”
Fittingly Carlaw, who was received a life on nought after a Mid Canterbury fielder dropped a dolly, belted the winning runs with a pull shot through the leg side. His knock included two massive sixes and seven fours.
Mair bowled just six overs in his only spell in the first innings and was expensive conceding 38 runs but in the second innings he bowled 14 overs and found the right line and length to knock the punch out of the Mid Canterbury line up.
Mid Canterbury’s first innings was one full of contributions.
James Southby led the way with an elegant 66, while Matt Tait (66), Tom Meyrick (49) and Richard Print (37) all chipped in as Mid Canterbury made it through to 264.
Craig Hinton was South Canterbury’s star with the ball in the first innings as he picked up 6-71 off 17.5 overs.
He had to contend with a blustery westerly wind for a good chunk of his second spell.
He was well supported by Jack Harper, who bowled a good line and length and was rewarded with two wickets.
Glen Drake and Carlaw both claimed two stunning catches off Hinton.
Tait provided Mid Canterbury with the impetus its innings required with his knock coming off just 76 balls.
That win puts South Canterbury joint top with North Otago on 12 points after they beat Otago Country outright in their match at Molyneux Park in Alexandra, while Mid Canterbury registered eight points for their first innings lead.