The annual SIPS Tournament is taking place this week in Christchurch. Read the daily reports and scoreboards here. So even if you can’t be there to follow the South Canterbury boys, you can keep up with their progress by visiting the Tournament Live Scoring pages here.
Primary A Tournament Team 2012-13 Season
Game 1 – South Canterbury vs Canterbury Country
The South Canterbury Primary A cricket team started its South Island tournament campaign in Christchurch with a first innings loss to Canterbury Country, yesterday.
South Canterbury could muster just 100 all out inside 53 overs and while Canterbury Country were in early trouble at 44-4, they recovered to post 122-7 in 37.4 overs.
Earlier, South Canterbury openers Shaun Rooney and Tim Hepburn put on 31 for the first wicket, but the run-rate never got above two an over after that.
The opening bowlers, Ben Aicken and Gabriel Evans, were the best of the bowlers.
Evans took a wicket in his first over and four of his first five overs were maidens.
Aicken was expensive in the context of the match, he conceded 40 runs in seven overs, but he did take the last three wickets to fall.
South Canterbury finished the day on 9-1.
South Canterbury coach Ants de Joux said his team were 30 runs short of a competitive total.
“We were targeting a score of 130 which we thought would have been really good.”
He said the slow outfield and his batsmen’s inability to capitalise on starts cost them the runs they needed.
He said his team outplayed Canterbury Country in the field and a similar effort today against Dunedin Metro could see them get their first win.
Game 2 – South Canterbury vs Dunedin Metro
For the second day in a row the South Canterbury primary cricket team’s batsmen were unable to score enough runs for their bowlers to defend at the South Island tournament.
To their credit, the bowlers tried hard to defend 107 against Dunedin Metro in Christchurch yesterday, but the southern side earned first innings points by scrambling past the total eight down.
South Canterbury’s top four batsmen all made starts but Tim Hepburn (13), Shaun Rooney (16), Will Sharp (20) and Cullen Grace (14) were unable to make the big score needed.
South Canterbury went from 82 for three to 107 all out.
Like Monday’s opening game against Canterbury Country, the bowlers worked hard to earn an unlikely win.
Opening bowler Gabriel Evans took three wickets, as did right-arm offspinner, Matt Cochrane-Bennett, as South Canterbury roared back into the game.
Dunedin Metro were 57 for two before South Canterbury ripped through their middle-order to have them 94 for eight.
The last two wickets proved elusive.
South Canterbury coach Ants de Joux said only a slight improvement in the batting was needed for them to get a win against Buller today.
“We didn’t bowl a wide today and our fielding was excellent.”
Game 3 – South Canterbury vs Buller
The South Canterbury Primary A team have earned their first win of their South Island tournament campaign with a first innings win over Buller, in Christchurch, yesterday.
The bowlers set the tone for the day, dismissing Buller for 69.
Jayden Henderson was the main destroyer. He took 4-10 from seven overs, which included four maidens, while Ted Grigg took two wickets.
The South Canterbury batsmen also joined in the fun.
They scored at better than a run a ball in posting 228-3 declared. Openers Tim Hepburn (74) and Will Sharp (69) combined for a 147 run opening stand, while Gabriel Evans added 38 from 27 balls to drive home the advantage.
The Buller batsmen showed more determination in the second innings. They survived 32 overs and were 39-2 when stumps were called.
South Canterbury coach Ants de Joux said they had asked Buller to bat so they could force the pace of the game. He said all his batsmen played with confidence, something they would have to continue to do against Nelson today.
Game 4 – South Canterbury vs Nelson
The South Canterbury Primary A team missed an opportunity to earn a first innings win over Nelson at their South Island tournament in Christchurch.
South Canterbury mustered 118 all out yesterday, and then had Nelson 64-9 in reply.
However, a gutsy last-wicket stand frustrated the South Canterbury bowlers for the remaining 20 overs until stumps. Nelson finished on 84-9 from 64 overs.
A gritty 44 from injured captain Shaun Rooney allowed South Canterbury to at least get to their small total.
Jayden Henderson and Hames Arscott were the only other batsmen to make double figures, with 13.
Opening bowler Gabriel Evans did the early damage. He took four for 12 from 10 overs.
However the final Nelson wicket proved elusive.
South Canterbury coach Ants de Joux siad his batsmen struggled with the damp pitch early, with several deliveries keeping low.
He was pleased with the way the tail batted, and although the team was disappointed not to earn a win, the players were pleased to have put pressure on a team like Nelson. They play Chch Metro in their final game today.