Millar Newlands makes a desperate dive whilst poaching a quick run against Canterbury Country. Photo Doug BovettMid Canterbury’s two age-grade rep sides fell to narrow defeats in their weekend hit-outs.

The under-17 boys’ outfit were edged by 2 wickets by Canterbury Country at the Lincoln Domain on Sunday.

Meanwhile it was a low scoring affair at Ashburton College as the under-15 side came up short against a Canterbury Country Development team.

It was the second match of the summer for the under-15s, after a 64 run loss to Canterbury Country seven days earlier.

However like the seniors who were in Invercargill for their first Hawke Cup challenge, it was their first fix of rep action for the under-17s.

The Mid Cantabrians won the toss and opted to bat, and they posted 189/7 from their allotted 50 overs.

A superlative 84-run third wicket partnership between Patrick Currie and Lachie Jemmett helped guide the visitors to a tricky total.

Jemmett top-scored with 54, while an unbeaten 43 from Gus Casey-Solly steered Mid Canterbury’s late innings charge.

Canterbury Country’s William Bretherton was the pick of the home team bowlers with 3-21 from his six overs.

Set 190 to win, Mid Canterbury had the inside running in the field as Canterbury Country lost wickets at regular intervals.

It looked a mountain too high for Canterbury Country once they slumped to 125/7 in the 25th over, still 65 runs required.

They sank deeper a few overs later when Archie Prain was run out for 28 to slide to 144/8.

However a heroic stand from their respective nine and ten batsmen, Rory Sloan and George Gunn, shepherded the Canterbury Country boys home in the 34th over to deny Mid Canterbury.

The pair put on 47 for the ninth wicket, with Sloan especially valuable with a quick-fire 39 from 30 balls to wrestle the game away from the visitors.

In the lower grade game, Mid Canterbury validated their decision to bowl first by skittling Canterbury Country for 52 inside 20 overs.

Emyln Rees, Hamish O’Reilly and Jack Keane all chipped in with two wickets apiece.

It would not be enough though, as Canterbury Country were even more devastating in the park, running through Mid Canterbury’s batting to be all out for 41.

Thomas Gunn was the pick of the bowlers for the visitors, taking 3-5 from 2.4 overs.

Both Mid Canterbury teams are back in action on Sunday against rep teams from South Canterbury.

The Mid Canterbury Primary Boys’ reps also face a Canterbury Country Development team in Darfield on the same day.

By Adam Burns © The Ashburton Guardian - 3 December 2020