Phil McGregor plays a ball behind point on his way to a half century for Star vs Timaru.
A last-ball finish was a fitting way to end an entertaining South Canterbury senior club one day cricket match between Star and Timaru at Mountainview High School on Saturday.
Celtic breathed life back into their campaign with a 133-run thrashing of the previously unbeaten Temuka, Timaru snuck home, and Pleasant Point recorded their first ever win at senior level with a good win over Waimate.
In the main game, Star lost the toss and were asked to bat.
After losing Adam Fahey with the score at 23, Phil McGregor and Paul Arkinstall steadied the ship for Star with a 68-run partnership.
McGregor knuckled down and continued to dig in, while Arkinstall started scoring freely when he became used to the pitch conditions.
With Arkinstall lbw for 27, Danny Campbell joined the left-handed McGregor at the crease scoring freely from ball one.
Former Sri Lankan age group representative Supeshala Jayathilake showed his class by halting Star’s momentum with a couple of key wickets, while leg spinner Alexander Lankeshwar removed the dangerous Campbell for 27.
McGregor made it through to 52 but was undone soon after by off spinner Prabodha Arthavidu.
The home side then struggled for impetus late in their innings falling about 20 runs shorts of their original target, with Jacques Marias striking a fighting 41.
Jayathilake finished with 3-43 and Brad Leonard took 2-29 as Star finished their innings on 187-9.
Susinda Nanayakkara (29) and Alex Lankeshwar (20) started positively for Timaru in their runchase getting the score through to 53 before the former became the first of two wickets for Marias.
With the platform set Arthavidu promoted himself to three and look set to bat deep into the innings before pulling a hamstring after attempting a quick single.
This bought Star back in the game and the removal of Josh Smallridge who was run out by a fantastic bit of work from Campbell gave them momentum.
A fighting 27 from Jayathilake and support from Hayden Leonard (24) got them within striking distance.
With one run required off the final over Star leg spinner Dale Warwood did a sterling job to take the match to the final ball, while Timaru did all they could to draw another game, they snuck home for a single off the final ball to reach claim the victory.
Warwood produced a quality spell to finish with 2-24 off nine overs.
In the match between Temuka and Celtic it did not take Kevin Teahen long to join an exclusive club.
He took just six balls to claim his 400th club wicket as he dismissed Willy Wright for 0.
Celtic managed to set a competitive total scoring 175 all out with Dan Laming (50) and Sam Carlaw (40) leading the way.
Teahen ended with 2 wickets but unfortunately for him Temuka were unable to manage a victory.
It was the Grant Watt show in the Temuka innings as the veteran right-arm seamer ripped through the home sides batting order to take 6-14.
Temuka could only muster 42, with Nick Horsley the only batsman to reach double figures top scoring with 27, while six of his team-mates failed to score.
In the final match at Aorangi Oval Pleasant Point claimed their first ever senior victory with a 23 run victory over Waimate.
Point scored 149 thanks mainly to contributions from Brad Tegellaars (45) and Grant Macfarlane (41). Glen Drake claimed 3-40 and George Morgan 3-32.
In reply, Waimate managed 126 with George Morgan top scored with 28.
Point captain Cameron Lundie said the win was satisfying.
“We played much better this week and took our catches. I think after that win we can finally say we belong at senior level.”
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