Stanley Mair has recently moved to Timaru and made a successful Hawke Cup debut last weekend.
Stanley Mair will remember the first and second spells of his South Canterbury Hawke Cup debut in contrasting fashion.
The 22-year-old admits the first spell he bowled was not his best but he learned from it quickly.
His debut may not have started in the best possible way but it certainly finished well as he claimed a five-wicket bag in the second innings of their Hawke Cup Southern Zone elimination match against Mid Canterbury in Timaru last weekend, which South Canterbury won by four wickets.
He said he had to forget about the first spell, in which he went for 0-38 off six overs.
“I was quite nervous, it was my first game at Hawke Cup level.”
Mair admitted to being “all over the place” in the first innings.
“By the time the second innings came around I knew what I had to do and where I had to pitch the ball and I’m just glad the rewards came.”
The opening bowler said he was pretty pleased overall.
“Hawke Cup is a good standard and I was glad to have been given the chance and to have bowled well in the latter part of the match did make me feel a bit happier with my debut.”
Mair was listed to come in next against Mid Canterbury in the successful second innings run chase but was pleased he was not needed.
“To be honest I was quite happy with not having to bat, Willie [Wright] and Sam [Carlaw] did well.”
It was just his third match in Timaru, all of which have been at Aorangi Oval, and to finally claim some wickets on the ground was nice.
“It took me a while but I finally found some nice rhythm.”
Having a home ground like Aorangi Oval is something Mair is enjoying.
“It’s a beautiful home ground and a great place to play cricket.”
He has made his way south after spending the last four years in Wellington playing premier club cricket for the University of Victoria Cricket Club.
About a month ago he moved to Timaru for work after securing a job.
“I’m loving it here, the people have been really friendly and it’s a fantastic place to live.”
The former Central Districts age-group representative is working for South Pacific Sera, a place that make animal vaccines, as a lab technician.
He has played two club games with Pleasant Point since arriving and is still coming to terms with how to bowl in Timaru.
“I have to be a bit fuller and straighter down here compared to in Wellington where you could bowl a back of a length a bit more.”
Being the quickest bowler running around in South Canterbury is a tag Mair would rather go without.
“I ‘m not worried about my pace. To me it’s how I get the wickets.”
In his two matches for South Canterbury, the match against Mid Canterbury and a warm up match against Canterbury Metro, he has been among the wickets, snaring eight.
Mair scored 6 not out in the first innings and “enjoyed” his first bat at that level but lacked support from some of his other team-mates as the last three went for ducks.
South Canterbury player-coach Nick Horsley has been impressed by Mair.
“He’s bowled really well and is going to be great for the area. He has all the attributes to be a good bowler.”
South Canterbury captain Sam Carlaw agreed.
“Stan came back well and bowled fantastically in the second innings. We knew he was capable of something like that.”
Mair is looking forward to playing in the senior Twenty20 competition beginning this Friday night.