The Mid Canterbury senior representative cricket side made a strong start to their campaign with a 65-run victory over South Canterbury in Timaru on Sunday.

Playing at Aorangi Oval, Mid Canterbury coach Garfield Charles opted for a good mix of experience and newcomers for the Ron Biggar Memorial game, with four players making their debut in the green and gold baggy cap.

With a busy season ahead, including the Hawke Cup, getting a win on the board to start the season will have come as a welcome boost for the side, who were methodical in their success on the weekend.

New captain William Southby won the toss, and elected to bat in the first innings.

Mid Canterbury lost Angus Jemmett quickly, but a steady innings from Nick Gilbert (42) set a solid platform for the middle order to deliver.

Spearheaded by an in-form Des Kruger, who had scored 99 the day before in club action, they pushed through to an impressive target.

Kruger finished with 94 not out to give himself a weekend average of 96.5, while Southby made a valuable captain’s knock of 39, combining for a 75-run partnership with Kruger through the middle stages of the innings.

Mid Canterbury could have posted a higher total than their 263 for nine, but their last four wickets fell for just eight runs.

South Canterbury were in trouble from the outset in their run chase, with both opening batsmen back in the sheds after just the first two overs.

Shaun Stagg claimed a royal golden duck on the first ball of the innings, and then Mana Singh, on debut, claimed his first Mid Canterbury wicket 11 balls later.

With wickets falling at a frequent rate, the game looked well in control until a 66-run eighth wicket stand threatened to turn things around.

However, two quick wickets from Angus Jemmett changed the match around again and South Canterbury were eventually rolled for 198.

Mana Singh and Ryan Bell were Mid Canterbury’s main forces with the ball, taking threw wickets each, while Jemmett’s input was invaluable as he removed two big threats on his way to taking 2-23 off his six overs.

Mid Canterbury will now turn their attention to a clash with Canterbury Country this weekend on the Ashburton Oval on Saturday.

Short scoreboard:

Mid Canterbury 263-9 (50 overs) Des Kruger 94 not out, Nick Gilbert 42, William Southby 39 beat South Canterbury 198 all out (41.2 overs) Ryan Bell 3-27 off 10 overs. Mana Singh 3-37 off 7 overs. Angus Jemmett 2-23 off 6.2 overs.

By Matt Markham © The Ashburton Guardian - 3 November 2020