Timaru swept aside the back-to-the-future Cavaliers side, while Celtic held their nerve to beat Star in the opening round of the senior Twenty20 cricket competition on Saturday.
Waimate beat Temuka by default after the Magpies were unable to field a team during the Hawke Cup weekend which saw all teams considerably under-strength.
Celtic beat Star by nine runs after a clutch final over from paceman Paddy Farr.
Timaru easily beat the Cavaliers by 83-runs thanks to all the top-order contributing.
Indian import Srinivas KS made 50 not out.
Celtic made a paltry 120 for seven from their 20 overs which must have given Star some hope of an upset.
Henry Race was the main architect of Celtic’s slow rate, as he took three for 15 from four overs.
Brad Gilbert added 28 at the top of the order for Celtic, but it was Star’s 24 extras which really hurt at the end of the day.
Danny Campbell struck 42 not out in the run chase, but could not get Star home, managing 111 for seven from their 20 overs
The Timaru batsmen enjoyed the Cavaliers bowlers.
Josh Smallridge (35) and Logan Taylor (34) made 60 for the first wicket and their efforts were continued by Srinivas KS.
Former South Canterbury captain Todd Elliotte proved he could still be effective in senior cricket.
His spinners grabbed him two for 27, but Timaru cruised to 162 for three.
The Cavaliers chase never got momentum. They were reduced 37 for five at one stage thanks to two wickets from Josh Dick.
Hayden Leonard also strangled the Cavaliers batsman.
His four overs cost him just eight runs and he got a wicket.
The Cavaliers limped through to 79 for seven at the close of play.
The next T20 game is between Celtic and Timaru at Aorangi Oval on Friday night.