South Canterbury Cricket News Section
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Ground Changes for Jan 9th 2010
There have been a couple of ground changes for this weekends matches (Jan 9th) in Senior and Second Grades due to ground availability.
Please check out the Senior Draw and Second Grade draws to see where games are now being played.
Canterbury Triumphant at Aorangi Oval
Canterbury won the match by 39 runs on the back of Rob Nicol’s 132, but Otago proved no push-overs, as a gallant Neil Broom pummelled 164 to overshadow Nicol, albeit in a losing cause.
Canterbury amassed a record New Zealand one-day domestic score of 410 for 5, which beat the previous record of 376 for 3 by Central Districts in 1996.
Otago were brave in reply, scoring 371 for 7.
The innings started cautiously from the red and blacks, after they were asked to bat by Craig Cumming, the Otago captain believing the overcast conditions and the appearance of some grass on the pitch would assist his bowlers in the opening overs.
Once adjusted to the conditions, the Canterbury openers of Nicol and Michael Papps began to play freely, carving Otago’s opening bowlers to all parts of the ground, even the introduction of former Pakistani player Yasir Arafat and former Black Cap Ian Butler couldn’t stop the flow of runs.
Papps looked the more in control of the two batsmen, with Nicol being fortunate not to edge a couple of deliveries onto his stumps, and have a couple of streaky edges not find a fielder behind the wicket.
Nicol brought up his 50 off 42 balls and Papps was not far behind raising his bat off 45 balls, with the 100-run partnership coming up off 92 balls.
The introduction of the slow bowlers slowed the run rate temporarily, but a wicket seemed impossible to get for the hapless Otago bowlers.
It took part-time bowler Neil Broom to remove Papps who was bowled a run-a-ball 78, with the score on 160.
Any thoughts the Otago bowlers had of being back in the game evaporated as Peter Fulton came out and smacked a blistering 88 off 61 balls.
Meanwhile Nicol bought up his second career domestic century and was eventually dismissed 132 off 108.
Shannan Stewart then came in and proceeded to ruin Cumming’s day further.
Cumming had been the pick of the bowlers until his final over, when Stewart hit him for five consecutive sixes, which gave the crowd some catching practice, in the meantime Stewart equalled the fastest 50 in New Zealand domestic cricket history, with it coming off 19 deliveries.
The highest score in New Zealand domestic cricket history was always going to be a tough ask.
Otago’s effort in reply was valiant, but in vain.
Despite scoring at over a run a ball for most of the innings, the asking run rate of more than eight runs an over proved too much.
Otago owed much credit for their chase to Neil Broom, who stood tall, keeping Otago clinging to the hope of a miraculous victory, his innings which included 12 fours and seven sixes was a sparkling knock, but he was unable to find a partner who could stick with him long enough.
Shaun Haig, (46) and Cumming (40) both scored at better than a run a ball, but got out just when Otago looked like being a threat.
Neil Broom struck the ball cleanly for most of his innings, until he was caught off the bowling of Ellis, as the required run rate began to spiral out of control.
Despite a late half century by Butler, as Neil Broom walked off to the appreciative applause of the crowd, Otago’s brave challenge had come to an end.
The win lifts Canterbury to second on the competition table, Otago remain in fifth.
Scoreboard:
Canterbury
R Nicol c McCullum b Arafat 132
M Papps b N Broom 78
P Fulton c D Broom b McCullum 88
J Myburgh c McCullum b Wagner 27
S Stewart c McCullum b Wagner 55
C van Wyk not out 7
A Ellis not out 5
Extras (3lb 15w)18
Total (for 5 wkts, 50 overs)410
Fall: 160, 287, 314, 363,399
Bowling: W McSkimming 7-1-50-0, N Wagner 9-0-74-2 (3w), Y Arafat 6-0-74-1 (3w), I Butler 5-0-59-0 (3w), N McCullum 10-0-56-1 (1w), C Cumming 9-0-67-0 (1w), N Broom 4-0-27-1.
Otago
L Morgan b Burson 4
S Haig b Frauenstein 46
N Broom c Frauenstein b Ellis 164
C Cumming c Frauenstein b Myburgh 40
D Broom run out (Harris) 21
N McCullum c Fulton b Ellis 15
I Butler not out 53
Y Arafat c Fulton b Burson 7
N Wagner not out 17
Extras (4lb)4
Total (for 7 wkts, 50 overs)371
Fall: 5, 95, 186, 236, 280, 302,332
Bowling: C Martin 8-0-75-0, R Burson 9-0-63-2, A Ellis 10-0-66-2, C Frauenstein 6-0-58-1, C Harris 10-0-57-0, R Nicol 2-0-17-0, J Myburgh 5-0-31-1.
Result: Canterbury win by 39 runs.
Spectators treated to thriller at Aorangi
The 1500 spectators who lined the grassy embankments saw a game of milestones they will never forget. Superb stroke-play saw Aorangi Oval play host to the highest total ever scored in New Zealand in one-day domestic cricket, beating the previous best of 376 by Central Districts against Otago in 1996.
If groundsman Greg Hull could have managed some sleep last night, he surely couldn’t have dreamt of a better day.
Hull said he was thrilled with how the pitch played, and was surprised both teams would have chosen to bowl, if they had won the toss. He said after a few sleepless nights in the days leading up to the game, he was looking forward to having a few beers to celebrate a job well done.
The new scoreboard got a good workout as the ball rolled and sometimes flew over the boundary rope with great regularity.
You had to feel sorry for the bowlers and fielders, as it seemed the children who lined the boundary waiting to get a touch of the match ball as it crossed the rope for another boundary were getting the most work.
After a day in the sun like no other, the South Canterbury cricketing faithful will be eagerly anticipating the Twenty20 encore on January 13.
New Scoreboard for Wizard’s Big Day at Aorangi
The Canterbury Wizards and Otago Volts will look to rekindle their one-day domestic semifinal aspirations at Aorangi Oval.
The final touches were being applied to the ground and its facilities yesterday, which included a new scoreboard to go with the upgrade of the changing rooms, all of which was required to bring domestic cricket back to South Canterbury.
Canterbury will have to play the game without former Black Cap, Craig McMillan, who has a calf strain and is being rested. He has been replaced by Andy Ellis. Fast bowler Hamish Bennett is also out and has been replaced by Brandon Hiini. Big-hitting Corey Anderson was not considered because of his shoulder injury.
Otago have made two changes to their squad, with Leighton Morgan brought in to the top-order at the expense of Hamish Rutherford and left-arm off spinner Nick Beard also comes in, replacing Anthony Bullick and Matthew Harvie, which cuts the squad to 12 players.
Canterbury are in fourth after two wins and two losses, and come into today’s game after a loss to Auckland, where they were unable to defend 282, thanks mostly to the heroics of Auckland batsman Martin Guptill, who blazed 156.
Otago are in fifth, with only one win against bottom-of-the-table Wellington. Otago could not chase down 297 against Central Districts on Monday, falling 59 runs short. A win for Canterbury would see them open up a big gap on the points table over Otago in the race for a top four spot.
The Aorangi Oval pitch has seen excellent scoring so far this season, as long as batsman are willing to apply themselves and get used to the conditions.
Groundsman Greg Hull was hopeful of preparing a pitch that would produce plenty of runs. He will certainly be looking to avoid a similar result to the last one-day domestic match played at the ground five years ago.
A star-studded Canterbury lineup was unable to chase down 148, losing by six runs to Northern Districts. Some of the players who were involved in that game will return today. They include Michael Papps, Chris Martin and the ageless Chris Harris.
Otago will pose a challenge for the more-fancied Canterbury, especially if their top order, led by Timaru’s own Craig Cumming, and former Black Cap Neil Broom, can find form.
Broom had been in great touch in the four-day competition, but with an Otago batsman’s top score in the one-day competition being 81, a century from the top-order is overdue.
Canterbury have a strong batting lineup full of past Black Caps, but their South African-born players, Johann Myburgh and captain Kruger van Wyk, are their most underrated quantity. In great form this season, Myburgh scored 112 against Auckland on Monday, while captain van Wyk is tidy behind the stumps, and handy with the bat lower down the order.
Otago has brought in former Pakistan international Yasir Arafat, whose medium-pace bowling will be respected.
Former Black Cap Ian Butler is another bowler to watch out for, the Otago paceman is coming off a four-wicket haul against Central Districts.
The game gets under way at 11am.
Black Cap’s big homecoming (Craig Cumming)
The return of domestic cricket to South Canterbury will also be a homecoming for one of the region’s top cricketers.
Cumming grew up in Timaru and represented the South Canterbury senior side in the 1993-94 season.
The 34-year-old played his early domestic cricket in Canterbury, but it was his move to Otago in 2000 that launched him into the New Zealand side.
The 2008-09 Otago cricket player of the year said the Christmas period could not have worked out better for him.
“When the schedule came out and I saw we had a game in Dunedin, and then one on New Year’s Eve in Timaru, it was quite exciting.
“It’s nice to be [in Timaru] over that period with the family connection.”
Cumming was looking forward to returning to his “home track” for the first time in six years, and hoped he and the rest of the Otago top order could find form.
“I think that has been our problem – a lot of our guys have got starts, but no-one’s got that one big score yet,” he said. “The secret is getting a guy in who gets the big score and then those 30s and 40s become good supporting acts.”
A loss against Central Districts on Monday has left Cumming hoping tomorrow will be the day everything clicks.
“There is still a lot of confidence in the team, and we know we have the players to perform well.
“We haven’t really shown any of our strengths yet, which has been frustrating, but the belief is still there.”
He expects Canterbury to provide tough opposition.
“I haven’t been watching them too closely, but obviously they will have a strong batting lineup.”
The 11 test and 13 one-day international player isn’t expecting a recall to the Black Caps in the near future and is instead focusing on his role as Otago captain.
“I don’t really know where I stand in the one-day game, and in the tests. I’d be surprised [to be reselected] based on the reasons I was given for missing out in the last series.
“You don’t have enough energy for the disappointments.
“I’m just wanting to focus on my role here with Otago.”
He said it was great to take cricket to smaller towns, and hoped a big crowd would turn up on New Year’s Eve.
“Some of the most beautiful grounds in the country are the small ones.
“I know we are certainly lucky in Otago with the University Oval and then places like Alexandra, Queenstown and Invercargill.
“Hopefully a lot of people will come out and watch the game; I know a few family and friends who will pop along and have a look and support the blue and golds, so we may get a few more supporters than Canterbury.”
24 hours in the life of Greg Hull – SCCA Groundsman
Nervous times: Aorangi Oval groundsman Greg Hull knows he will prepare a good pitch for the return of top-level domestic cricket to South Canterbury on December 31, but it is not enough to calm his nerves before the big day.
Top level domestic cricket returns to Timaru for the first time in nearly five years on Thursday, when Canterbury and Otago clash in a one-day game at Aorangi Oval. For groundsman Greg Hull that means some nerves about how the pitch he’s preparing will play on the day. He spoke to Jacob Page about what that 24 hours of his life should be like.
I’ll be nervous as hell, I know that.
I’m going to stay the night here, at the ground, to make sure nothing happens.
I won’t get much sleep.
Get up at 6am.
Get the covers off.
Give it a mow.
Repaint the lines.
Re-mark the 30-metre circle.
Get the sight screens out.
Check the boundary again!
Within half an hour before the game you give the pitch a seven-minute roll, (it’s in the rules), and generally make the pitch look more aesthetic; just make sure everything looks good.
You’re nervous as hell for a while, until the first over is away and then everything is all right.
In the days leading up to the game the preparation is meticulous and scientific.
Basically, taking a lot of core samples out (of the pitch), so you know what’s going on in the soil underneath the grass.
It’s a bulk density test, so you take little samples out, divide them into thirds, weigh them and then microwave them to get all the moisture out, weigh them again, do some maths and that’s how you figure out how hard your pitch is.
You do a lot of watering and a lot of slow rolling.
I timed it once when I was [slow rolling the pitch] at Eden Park, and it takes you 19 minutes to walk from one end of the pitch to the other.
You just make sure that the cracks in the surface don’t open up too much, because that can cause the variable bounce you sometimes see.
You can only do what you know and what you’ve been taught and what works best, but sometimes you don’t know how your pitch is going to go.
You hope like hell that it’s consistent.
That would be the worst thing, if it was inconsistent, like if [a ball bounces] low, or if one goes high off a good length.
If it rains the night before a game, that is better than if it rains three or four days out, because the night before the game, you already have all your preparation done, and the pitch is fully covered.
The outfield would be the major worry. The players are running in hard so they don’t want any slipperiness.
Bringing back cricket to the community, it’s massive, so I’ll be hugely nervous.
It starts in the days leading up to it, but you definitely feel it on the morning of the match.
I still get nervous for a local match.
I’ll be nervous the day of the game, I probably won’t be saying much.
You spend so much time on it, worrying about it and wondering.
I’m thinking a lot about it now.
You know it’s all right by the look and the feel [of the pitch], but until the first ball is bowled, you don’t really relax, especially for such a big game. It’s a fair bit of pressure.
Ideally you want the batting team to get 290 [runs] and for it to be a close game, so it gives people something to watch.
I want [the pitch] to be quite fast, have good carry, and then for there to be a bit of spin near the end of each innings.
Ideally you want a wicket which is going to have something in it for everyone.
I always had a dream of working in a big stadium, and I got the opportunity to work at Eden Park.
There were four of us working under Auckland groundsman Mark Perham so we didn’t feel the pressure as much as he did.
We all knew our job, so it was pretty easy.
Mark felt the pressure though. You didn’t go near him the day of the game. You wouldn’t see him.
It was always my dream job, but basically you worked seven days a week.
You were lucky to get a day off (over the summer months), because you had that much cricket on, so you got over it.
Everyone wants to have a life, but you don’t want to live to work, do you?
It should be the other way around.
I came back to Timaru, to help look after my Dad, who died of cancer, and a friend told me the job was available and I thought, “yeah, that would suit me perfectly”, because I was back at home with Mum and my brother, and it was only 20 hours a week, so it worked in perfectly and I knew I’d enjoy it.
I don’t know what I’ll do after the contract expires, but if something like this does come up, I’ll definitely consider it. I love doing this.
You never stop learning, you’re never too arrogant to ask questions.
You’ve got to, otherwise you won’t get too far.
I listen to everyone who has an opinion, even if they work at a lesser ground. You just take what you can from what they say.
I do love this job, being outdoors.
The good days far outweigh the bad ones.
Carlaw Family Lead Celtic in Twenty20 Wins
Sam Carlaw shrugged off the disappointment of being dropped from the Hawke Cup team by making two scintillating innings with the bat, one of which was a family affair in a long partnership with his father Bruce, as he lead Celtic to two wins in the first rounds of the inaugural club senior Twenty20 competition during the weekend, matching Geraldine as teams to win twice.
Celtic posted 158-5 in their first match in Temuka after Sam scored 48 not out and Bruce 45 and this proved to be far too many for Temuka who scored 119-8 with Johnny Geddis continuing his fine season by top-scoring with 40. Despite missing seven players on rep duty, Celtic’s bowlers all stood up, and Grant Watt led the way after coercing the Temuka batsmen into a false sense of security by conceding 18 runs from his first over, and had the last laugh by taking 4-29. The Carlaw’s were again in on the act with a wicket each too.
Due to the nature of the draw Celtic then had to jump into their cars and travel to Ashbury Park for their next match against Star who had won their first game with only three balls to spare against Waimate after Paul Arkinstall’s 54 in a 75 run partnership with young Willie Wright had been the difference between the teams. Star did stutter near the end as Jason Sew Hoy took two wickets in two balls, but perhaps an omen of the day when it came to the Waimate performance reared its head again as an easy catch was put down in Alan Reid’s final over when the pressure was on.
The departure of de Joux was little relief for the Star bowlers as Sam Carlaw continued his fine form from Temuka hitting six sixes on his way to 63 and Star new it would be hard work having to score at more than 10 an over to win. Arkinstall gave it a shot completing a fine double with 46 but he had little support and with No 10 Jeremy Lane next best with 12 runs Star were well short when dismissed for 124 in the 17th over.
While the Celtic club was showing their depth and dominance in all versions of the game, Waimate traipsed across Ashbury to play Timaru. Unfortunately as Geraldine had found out in the early game, Waimate were about to play cricket on an under-prepared and dangerous pitch. With the slower the bowler the more dangerous the bounce, even the keepers resorted to wearing a helmet for safety as the balls popped and moved alarmingly off a length.
The state of the pitch unfortunately led to very low scoring matches, and certainly not the shot making spectacle expected from the Twenty20 format. In the first game Timaru could only manage 68 runs against Geraldine with Grant Brookland top scoring with 19 not out. For Geraldine Michael King was the best of the bowlers with 3-12, but the run chase was not as easy as expected and Geraldine lost six wickets on their way to a win, but a 37 run partnership between Gary Muff (25*) and Phill Lill (15) got them home despite Kris Howes best efforts with 2-5 from his 4 overs.
Brookland took encouragement from his first innings and opened the batting against Waimate this time making 40 as he again top-scored for Timaru, and this time had support from Howes with 32 allowing Timaru to score a competitive 112-4.
In reply Waimate struggled to build partnerships and to play the variable bounce and in the end could only manage 95 after the asking rate spiraled away from them. Rob Beeching top-scored with 25 and Nathan Sheppard was next best, not out on 16, but the enjoyment for players and spectators alike had long been lost after playing a match in sub standard conditions.
Geraldine imbued with enthusiasm after winning their first match travelled to Temuka for their second match and again enjoyed success chasing down the 158 Temuka posted. Temuka’s Les Humphris and Ritchie Preston both scored 65, but this time they were outshone by another young player, Geraldine’s Michael King who followed up his 3 wickets in the first match by top-scoring for the Geraldine day with 62, a fitting time to score his first senior fifty and with all the Geraldine batsmen contributing to solid partnerships, Geraldine emerged the victors.
South Canterbury’s lose on 1st innings to Mid Canterbury
Mid Canterbury’s first wicket fell with only seven runs in the book, but then partnerships of 70, 59 and 98 ensued as Robert Madden scored a patient 54 and Des Kruger again relished the conditions before Craig Davies had him caught by Dan Laming (1 of 3 catches) in sight of his century for 94.
Most of the Mid Canterbury middle order made double figures too before they were finally dismissed for 334 late in the afternoon on day one. South Canterbury batted through to be 76-2 after 29 overs at stumps with Dan Laming 28 not out and Matt Barnes 24 not out at the crease.
Day two dawned and the going was tough after Laming was first out for 44, Matt Mealings without scoring and James Laming for 9 to have South Canterbury 125-5 and a long way short of avoiding the follow on.
The southerly change which came through appeared to breathe new life into Mid Canterbury’s Richard Print who bowled unchanged for two hours on his way to a six wicket bag, including Barnes who was sixth out for 45 and Print finished with 6-52.
However, Glenn Matthews found some partners in the tail order especially Kevin Teahen who batted an hour for his 18 not out. Matthews brought up his fifty just before lunch to help South Canterbury stay in the hunt to avoid the follow on, but as so often happens after a break the game changes and after lunch Matthews was dismissed for 63 with the South Canterbury score at 230, one wicket remaining and still four short of the follow on total. A further run was added before Craig Hinton was given out lbw and Mid Canterbury immediately asked South Canterbury to bat again.
Jeremy Liddy started positively with some good drives before being out caught for 29 and Craig Davies and Matt Barnes then batted through until the hailstorm arrived which meant an early tea was taken, but with further rain the match was finally called off about 4.00pm with South Canterbury 57-1.
With the first match in the Hawke Cup abandoned, and currently under appeal, the first innings loss to Mid Canterbury has not helped the cause and South Canterbury will be looking to make all the running in a search for outright points in the remaining two matches against North Otago and Otago Country in the New Year.
Cricketers will see pink in bid to add colour
For the first time the bowlers will trial a new pink leather cricket ball.
The appears to be no scientific reason for the change but it is being used to add more colour to the shortest form of the game.
South Canterbury Cricket’s development officer Richard Davidson said it was designed to add some flavour to Twenty20 cricket.
The move from red to white balls was made many years ago to help cricketers in the day-night matches. Now pink could soon be the colour of the day.
Davidson said the Platypus balls were also being trialled elsewhere and he believed there would be no problems.
The change in thinking since cricketers followed baseballers and softballers from “whites” into “pyjamas” has been immense
Pink itself has also made an amazing transformation. In the past pink was seldom associated with sport, especially sports for tough alpha males.
United States gridiron teams even adopted the bizarre practice of dressing underperforming players in pink shirts as a punishment.
A US football magazine gives a “pink” card to players it accuses of diving.
The meaning was clear: pink was not masculine and was disgraceful.
That has all changed however after French rugby monsters Stade Francais went to glory wearing pink a couple of seasons ago. Even the fans wear it.
Pink shirts, cricket bat handles and hats have been worn by sports stars to raise awareness about breast cancer including the Middlesex Twenty20 cricket team.
For some cricket die-hards however the sound of “pink” leather on willow may never be the same.
South Canterbury Confident ahead of Hawke Cup
The South Canterbury cricket side head into their second Hawke Cup elimination game of the season full of confidence.
South Canterbury face neighbours Mid Canterbury over the weekend at the Aorangi Bowl, after their first game against Southland was abandoned.
The southerners could not find a suitable pitch after heavy rain, meaning the points were shared.
Coach Richard Davidson has named an experienced lineup although there are a couple of youngsters in the mix.
Roncalli College’s Sam Carlaw has been included as the second spinner as Aorangi is known to favour the batsmen and can be hard work for the seamers on a flat track.
The young left-arm orthodox bowler has shown plenty of potential and could get a lots of overs in tandem with captain Todd Elliotte.
Elliotte is heading towards a big milestone of his own, clocking up his 99th appearance for South Canterbury and is already the province’s most successful wicket taker.
His bowling performance could prove critical on the second day.
Left-armer Craig Hinton will open the bowling with the reliable Kevin Teahen.
Craig Davies is set to open the batting with Jeremy Liddy.
Davies had a hugely successful off-season in England and the side will be looking to him to get away to a good start.
English import Matt Barnes will bat at number three and is also capable of getting a big score.
Matt Mealings, Dan Laming and Glenn Mathews will make up the middle order and give the side a solid look.
Mathews has returned from a couple of years in England and has been the form player in the club competition.
Laming can turn a game, making him another key player.
Both Laming and Mathews will be expected to bowl a few overs at some stage while Luke Taylor returns with the gloves.
Two players unlucky to miss out were Grant Brookland and James Laming. Brookland has thrived in the club competition after taking over Timaru’s captaincy.
Mid Canterbury’s record to date has been poor with a first innings and outright losses, so they will be looking to get their season back on track.
Davidson said Mid Canterbury tended to produce their best against South Canterbury.
Play gets under way at the Aorangi Oval at 10am.
Renovations get Canty cricket’s approval
It may look a little messy, but it is on track.
The upgrade of Aorangi Oval’s changing rooms got the seal of approval from Canterbury Cricket chief executive Lee Germon yesterday.
The improvements were vital in bringing first-class cricket back to South Canterbury after a five-year absence.
Aorangi Oval will play host to two domestic cricket matches this year – a 50-over game between Canterbury and Otago on New Year’s Eve and a Twenty20 contest between Canterbury and Central Districts on January 13.
South Canterbury Cricket president Andrew McRae said he was confident the renovations would be completed in time.
The project is expected to cost between $20,000 and $30,000, but McRae said it was worth the money.
“It was an opportunity that was too good for us not to seize.”
The changing rooms will more than double in size, from their original 25-square-metre space.
Germon, who used to play at the oval during his career in the 1990s, said the upgrade was needed.
“We played quite a few games at Aorangi, and I don’t think the facilities have changed from those days.”
The former New Zealand cricket captain urged the South Canterbury public to come and support the games, to ensure they became a regular summer fixture.
“We’ve historically had such great support from South Canterbury Cricket and the public to matches we have had here.
“It’s obviously a step for us to come back, so it’s really important that the one-day game and the Twenty20 are supported by the locals; and if they are, we’ll keep coming back.”
Germon also spent time looking at the pitch, and surrounding block, as well as talking with South Canterbury Cricket officials about how both days will run.
Germon said the chances of seeing some of the Black Caps play in the two games were high.
Three Outright Results in Tweedy Cup
Celtic had time to do the Christmas shopping after dismissing Star early on the second day 10 runs short of having to bat again and moved to the top of the Tweedy Cup. Temuka reversed a first innings loss to win outright over Timaru and in Waimate the home team continued their dominance from day one only needing 57 to win outright in their second innings.
Timaru were always behind the 8 ball after being 39-4 in their second innings overnight, and despite a dogged innings from Robbie Rankin with 16, and 23 from both Gerald Piddock and Hayden Butler their total of 110 which left Temuka a target of 133 was probably 20-30 runs short of a really competitive total.
For Temuka Michael Geddis had plenty of reason to celebrate after taking his first 5 wicket bag for 10 seasons, while workhorse Kevin Teahen was his usual miserly self with 3-17 from 21 overs. At one stage he had bowled 10 overs and taken 1 wicket for 1 run, and the run was a wide.
Timaru made two early breakthroughs, but then dropped a crucial catch off John Geddis and he went on to make 30 while building a solid partnership with his captain Ritchie Preston. Preston batted through to victory for Temuka dominating the game with an unbeaten 59 and was supported by Chris Opie and Simon Attridge to make sure there were no late hiccups.
Waimate began the day with 10 overs still available in their first innings and went on the attack adding a further 56 runs with captain Jason Sew Hoy picking up his first half century of the season enabling a declaration at 243-7 and at the same time ruining the bowlers figures.
Batting a second time the Geraldine batsmen all got starts but no one could go on. Young Harry Miller after a week’s cricket at the U17 tournament found some form as he top scored with 30 in a very good innings, while George Harper was next best with 27.
However, it was Matt Devlin’s day as he ripped through the Geraldine tail on his way to a career best 5-26 after earlier Murray Prattley chimed in with two caught and bowled dismissals against last week’s top scoring Matt Walker and English pro Matt Barnes, and this time Geraldine could only post 135, leaving Waimate needing 57 for victory which they accomplished easily despite the loss of 3 wickets.
In the Celtic match, Star needed to bat all day to try and minimize the damage, and although night watchman Craig Hinton tried his best and was sixth out top-scoring with 28, apart from Alexander McKenzie with 27 there was little resistance, and Celtic made sure they put the finishing touches to the match by dismissing Star for 140, something they have been remiss in doing over the last couple of seasons. Glenn Matthews capped off a fine match with 4-39 while Paddy Farr and Sam Carlaw picked up a couple of wickets each.
These results will mean nothing next weekend when the inaugural Senior Twenty20 competition starts with teams playing two matches a day. Four teams will be in action using special pink balls at Ashbury next Saturday, and with the representative players on Hawke Cup duty at Aorangi it will be an interesting spectacle.
Dream century one of a kind
He’s no Lance Cairns but for one Saturday in Timaru, he sure batted like him.
Cricketer Jeremy Anderson, or `Hoss’ as he is better known, has never had a day at the crease like he had on Saturday at Rockdale, and by his own admission, he probably won’t again.
The smattering of fans watching were in awe, and in danger, as the Celtic Senior Reserve middle-order batsman pummelled a hapless Timaru Boys’ High School Senior Reserve bowling attack for nine sixes in a quick-fire century that took less than forty balls.
Anderson said he had always dreamed of doing something like Lance Cairns, with no success.
“I think my highest score was 17.
“I always go out there and try and have a bit of a go, and then it doesn’t really work out, until now.”
“I was on the verge of making it my last game.
“I thought I could give it up and go fishing instead”, Anderson joked.
He claimed he could have got to the century faster had it not been for a message from his team-mates.
“My brother yelled out to say I was on 98, so that slowed me down a bit.”
The bat itself is no one-time wonder like Excalibur, as Anderson has used it many times with little success.
“I don’t own it, it’s a friend’s bat.”
Anderson said he knew the innings would be important in the outcome of the match, despite one of the team’s openers also scoring a century.
“I knew I probably needed to get some runs, knowing how some of our bowlers go at times.
On 104, and tired, Hoss’ heroics finally came to an end
When he was asked about where his career could go from here, Anderson was blunt.
“Oh, probably all downhill.”
Whatever happens, he will always have the memory of his day in the sun at Rockdale Rd.
U17 girls batting disappoints
The South Canterbury under-17 girls cricket side was left ruing one poor batting performance at their regional tournament in Christchurch.
Being dismissed for 59 against eventual winners Christchurch cost the team any chance for the title.
The 50-over competition started positively for South Canterbury when their bowlers rattled through Canterbury Country in their opening game.
Having scored 166, the South Canterbury bowlers, led by Hannah Linton with 6-11, tore through the Canterbury Country line-up for just 66.
Their middle game against eventual winners Christchurch proved to be their undoing.
Once more the bowlers did their job and restricted the hosts to just 111, thanks to Mid-Canterbury import Primrose Pudney, who took 5-32.
The target looked small, but some accurate Christchurch bowling saw South Canterbury fall 52 runs short, with only one batter making it to double figures.
The South Canterbury batters saved their best effort for the last game against Christchurch Red.
Openers Courtney Buckman and Courtney Hamel, who finished on 82 not out, combined for a 176-run partnership, until Buckman misjudged a second run, to be run out on 99, but the innings held firm and South Canterbury set an imposing total of 258.
Christchurch Red could only muster 54 in reply, as Linton capped off a fine tournament with another three wickets, and Buckman showed her all-round ability, taking 2-10 from her spell.
SC U19 almost win rain affected tournament
Coach Chris Galwey almost added the Canterbury Area U19 tournament to his list of achievements as a player or coach but was denied by the very last ball of the week as South Canterbury tied their last match in the tournament held at Illam during the first week of December.
A rain ruined week of weather meant that only two matches could be played on the Thursday and Friday of the tournament and after winning their Thursday match, if SC had been able to win on the Friday they would have won the tournament, but alas a tie was the end result.
The players did have a bonus during the week as Chris called on some of his playing day contacts and the team all had Tuesday indoor nets with Sir Richard Hadlee and Paul Wiseman both in attendance for the afternoon and passing on their knowledge and tips for the spinners and the quicks, an occasion that should stay in the players memories for a long time.
