Author Brayden Lindsay - Timaru Herald
Phill Lill prouded a masterful 82 against Star.
Temuka Phil Lill and Glen Drake produced a batting masterpiece as they hit the Star bowlers to all parts of Mountainview High School..
The introduction of the white duke cricket ball is proving good for batsmen in the region as a number have started the South Canterbury club cricket season well.
Lill was in impressive form at Mountainview High School as he scored 82, while Drake provided perfect support with 60.
The pair put on 128 for the fourth wicket as they took the game away from Star.
Lill punished anything over pitched with some great lofted shots down the ground and was quick to put anything too short, away over square leg.
He survived one tough chance but was otherwise in top form throughout, in what was a quality knock.
Drake backed up his 61 not out last week with a fabulous knock.
He was superb off his legs and played all the bowlers with intent.
Lill hit four sixes and seven fours in his knock, while left-handed Drake smashed six fours and two glorious slog sweep sixes.
Dinesh de Silva and Warren Morgan carried on the strong hitting with 34 and 31 respectively, while Hayden Broker chipped in with an unbeaten 19 as they racked up and impressive 285-8 from their 45 overs.
Matt Brown was costly with the ball but picked up four wickets including Drake and Lill, while Craig Hinton bowled eight quality overs to nab two wickets.
Star’s run chase wasn’t helped by the fact they were deducted five overs for slow over rate, making the chase even harder.
Brown hit a quick fire 38 but when he was dismissed Star’s chances of chasing down the total went south.
George Morgan hit 20 and Phil McGregor (21) as Star fell for a paltry 138 in comparison.
De Silva bowled superbly taking three for nine off his eight overs, while Dillon Lees cleaned up the tail with 3-17.
Tom Costley for Pleasant Point connects with the ball while Timaru wicketkeeper Sasindu Nanayakkara looks on during their cricket match at Pleasant Point at the weekend.
At the Pleasant Point Domain, the home side recorded an emphatic 77-run victory over Timaru.
Adam Beck (54), Tom Costley (56) and Duncan Macpherson (51) all made half centuries, while Liam Beck smashed 35.
Point recorded a massive 275 batting first in a dominant performance.
Costley whacked six sixes in his 57-ball stay, while Liam Beck smashed two in his 20-ball innings.
Sam Porter and Zane Sanders were the best of the Timaru attack nabbing two wickets each.
In reply, they lost their openers cheaply to South Canterbury quick Stan Mair, who produced an outstanding seven over spell, while Sasindu Nanayakkara with 53 and Josh Smallridge 62 helped restore some pride to the Timaru batting card.
The pair added 66 before Nanayakkara fell, making things tough for Timaru.
Off-spinner Sean Wills was the star of the Point attack nabbing six wickets, including three in four balls.
Next weekend Timaru and Star collide with both teams searching for their first win, while Pleasant Point host Celtic.
At a glance
Temuka 285-8 (P Lill 82, G Drake 60, D de Silva 34, W Morgan 31; M Brown 4-72, C Hinton 2-34) defeated Star138 (M Brown 38, P McGregor 21, G Morgan 20; D de Silva 3-9, D Lees 3-17) by 148 runs, at Mountainview High School.
Pleasant Point 275-6 (T Costley 56, A Beck 54, D Macpherson 51, L Beck 35; S Porter 2-35, Z Sanders 2-60) defeated Timaru 199 (J Smallridge 62, S Nanayakkara 53; S Wills 6-40, S Mair 2-12) by 77 runs, at Pleasant Point Domain.