South Canterbury’s Tom Costley comes into bowl against Mid Canterbury in the Ron Biggar Memorial at the Ashburton Domain, while umpore Bevan Guthrie watches closely.
The Ron Biggar Cup is returning to Ashburton.
South Canterbury suffered a 28-run loss to Mid Canterbury in the Ron Biggar Memorial at the Ashburton Domain.
Richard Print starred for Mid Canterbutry taking five wickets and top-scoring with 47.
Mid Canterbury right arm medium fast bowler Richard Print starred taking 5-23, while spinner Ryan Cockburn picked up 3-15 to skittle their opponents for 131.
After winning the toss and deciding to bowl, South Canterbury seemingly reaped the rewards, dismissing Mid Canterbury for 158 in 47.5 overs.
It was a strong bowling performance from the green-and-blacks, but once again the batting failed to fire.
South Canterbury restricted Mid Canterbury well throughout the innings with some disciplined bowling.
Pace bowlers James Blackstock, Craig Hinton and Tom Costley were superb, hitting a great line and length and making it difficult for the Mid Canterbury batsmen.
Supeshala Jayathilake carried on his strong form from the day before with some good spin bowling as South Canterbury dismissed their northern neighbours for a below par total.
Costley picked up 2-25 from his 10 overs, while Blackstock claimed 2-25 from nine overs, while Jayathilake chipped in with 4-47 off 10.
Print was the only Mid Canterbury batsman to get going scoring 47 before he was stumped by Adam Beck off Jayathilake.
Matthew Tait added 23 in a Mid Canterbury innings that lacked support.
Pleasant Point’s Costley claimed the first wicket of the match, in his first game for South Canterbury.
South Canterbury’s batting effort started poorly with opener Phil McGregor falling lbw for 0.
Liam Beck was the next to go when caught behind for 5.
Sasindu Nanayakkara made just 7, while Prabodha Arthavidu (24) and Glen Drake (27) tried to dig the side out of a hole.
They put on a 50-run partnership before Arthavidu fell to off-spinner Cockburn.
Adam Beck came and went for 0 before Tim Leonard in his first match for South Canterbury fell to Print for just 5.
Jayathilake showed some fight to top score with 31, but when he was dismissed South Canterbury’s chances were all but over.
It capped off a good day for the Sri Lankan, who made a strong case for selection in the opening clash at the same ground in early December.
Despite missing James Laming, Sam Carlaw and Stan Mair, South Canterbury should’ve had enough fire power to get over the line.
South Canterbury face Canterbury Country at Aorangi Oval on November 13.
MID CANTERBURY
C Gallagher c Nanayakkara b Costley 5
J Southby c Nanayakkara b Costley 19
R Cockburn c Nanayakkara b Blackstock 4
M Tait b Blackstock 23
D Kruger run out Leonard 4
R Print stp Beck b Jayathilake 47
J Morrison lbw Jayathilake 8
R Bell c Nanayakkara b Jayathilake 11
H Jones not out 11
D McCloy c A Beck b Jayathilake 0
B Ravenscroft c Costley b Arthavidu 12
Extras (12w, 1nb) 13
Total (all out, 47.5 overs) 158
Fall: 9, 25, 53, 65, 68, 101, 123, 138, 140, 158
Bowling: C Hinton 9-2-18-0, T Costley 10-1-25-2, J Blackstock 9-1-25-2, S Jayathilake 10-1-47-4, N Maguire 7-0-34-0, P Arthavidu 3-0-9-1.
SOUTH CANTERBURY
P McGregor lbw Print 0
S Nanayakkara c Gallagher b Biggs 7
L Beck c Gallagher b Print 5
P Arthavidu c Gallgher b Cockburn 24
G Drake c Gallagher b Cockburn 27
A Beck b Cockburn 0
T Costley c Morrison b Print 5
T Leonard lbw Print 5
S Jayathilake c McCloy b Print 31
C Hinton not out 6
J Blackstock c Tait b Jones 0
Extras (4b, 13w, 1nb) 18
Total (all out, 44.4 overs) 131
Fall: 7, 10, 26, 77, 80, 83, 92, 113, 129, 131
Bowling: R Print 9-2-23-5, D Biggs 4-1-14-1, H Jones 6.4-0-21-1, B Ravenscroft 5-0-23-0, J Southby 2-0-12-0, R Bell 8-0-19-0, R Cockburn 10-5-15-3.
Result: Mid Canterbury won by 28 runs.