High fives as Harry McMillan claims another victim. Photo Adam BurnsThe budding talents within Mid Canterbury’s cricketing ranks have staked their credentials after taking charge at the weekend.

The senior reps clinched a hard fought three-wicket win over Canterbury Country in a 50-over Hawke Cup warm-up in Ashburton on Sunday.

Left arm quick Harry McMillan and AshColl batting star Angus Jemmett were the key contributors for Mid Canterbury in a low scoring affair at the Ashburton Domain Oval – promising signs ahead of this weekend’s Hawke Cup challenge with South Canterbury.

Eighteen-year-old McMillan’s five-for restricted Canterbury Country to 151 batting first.

It was a total which looked more than enough, however, as Mid Canterbury’s top order crumbled to be 9/4 by the seventh over in response.

An unruffled Jemmett, who opened the innings, shepherded the hosts out of difficulty, with an unbeaten 63, alongside some support in the middle order, to lead Mid Canterbury home with six overs in hand.

In what proved to be challenging conditions for batting, Canterbury Country toiled away at the top after being sent in.

They lost both openers in consecutive overs to be 38/2 with the run rate little more than 3 an over.

The flow of runs continued to lag for the visitors as expat Archie Redfern and Liam Foulkes looked to consolidate over the next 15 or so overs.

The pair put on 45 before Redfern, who had spent almost an hour at the crease for 15, was caught off the bowling of Ryan Bell.

Foulkes continued to persevere at the other end, as he led Country past the 100 run mark.

The reintroduction of McMillan however spelled problems for the visitors’ batsmen, as the STAC left armer exploited the conditions to great effect.

He removed Foulkes for 36 caught behind, before he halted a promising foray in the same fashion from Ryan Hughes in the 41st over to leave Country at 120/5.

McMillan (5-34) proceeded to eat into the lower order as Country lost five wickets for 16 runs, as Country stuttered their way past 150 before losing their final wicket at the start of the 50th over.

Mid Canterbury’s reply could not have begun much worse, as Country’s opening bowling duo Austin Hamilton and Zak Foulkes obliterated Mid Canterbury’s top order with four of the top five falling for 2 or less.

Jemmett and James Southby dug in for the home team, putting on 61 for the fifth wicket to haul them off the ropes.

Southby then fell for 42 when he was stumped, to leave Mid Canterbury 70/5 and again on the backfoot.

Captain William Southby joined Jemmett at the crease before the pair added 37 in what was developing into a neck-and-neck tussle.

Another two quick wickets edged Country back in front, with another 37 still required.

Coming in at nine, Tom Middleton played a crucial cameo in support, hitting two fours and a six in his unbeaten 23 as he and Jemmett, who had held up Mid Canterbury’s effort from the outset, got the hosts home in the 44th over.

Mid Canterbury will host South Canterbury in the Hawke Cup at the Ashburton Domain Oval this weekend.

By Adam Burns © The Ashburton Guardian - 13 January 2021