Devon Flannery with his masterful century. Photo supplied.Another dose of final session fireworks gave Mid Canterbury’s cricketers another sniff of an outright win in the Hawke Cup at the weekend.

The team were left to ruminate on several hypotheticals, as the clock snuffed out the prospect of maximum points as they came within two wickets of completing victory over South Canterbury at the Ashburton Oval.

With that said, Mid Canterbury should be more than satisfied as they walked away with the first innings points off the back of a blazing knock from 16-year-old Devon Flannery.

The AshColl pupil hit 134 – his maiden Cup hundred and the highest individual score in the zone this season – to guide Mid Canterbury to 226 on Saturday’s opening day.

The youngster was in commanding touch on the Saturday as he steered the hosts out of early danger before taking to the South Canterbury attack during a 232 minute stay at the crease, which included 14 fours and four sixes. To say his knock was critical to the Mid Canterbury cause is self-evident and provided his team-mates something to bowl at.

The visitors were resolute in response as they went to tea on the first day at 26/1 – their only setback coming when debutant Harry McMillan took a sharp chance at forward square leg off the bowling of Shaun Stagg.

Mid Canterbury, however, exerted control late in the final session to complete the day on top.

South Canterbury lost opener George Morgan leg-before after tea, as McMillan claimed his first Hawke Cup scalp, before Chris Hogan and Jacob Naylor added 53.

A double strike by James Southby had both batsmen back in the dugout before Angus Jemmett had Sam Porter trapped in front as the visitors limped to stumps at 96/5, still trailing by 130.

The prospects of a result appeared to take a blow the next day, as rain followed by a wet outfield meant play did not get under way until about noon.

Needing quick wickets, Mid Canterbury were able to strike twice in the 15 overs before lunch and again with Jemmett’s first over after the break, to leave South Canterbury eight down and 100 still behind.

A 29-run ninth wicket stand – the visitors’ second highest of the innings – between Phil Lill and Mark Otley impeded the hosts slightly, but it was short-lived as the tail was mopped up.

Although in the driver’s seat with a 57-run first innings lead, Mid Canterbury curiously balanced dangling the carrot enough for South Canterbury but leaving themselves enough time to bowl them out.

Backing up his three-for with the ball, Jemmett led the way on second crack with 61 as the visitors made regular inroads to ensure the hosts did not dictate proceedings completely.

Captain William Southby pulled the pin at 125/6, which left South Canterbury a target of 183 at just under 8 an over, and 23 overs for Mid Canterbury to pull off an unlikely win.

South Canterbury were two down early before Sam Porter and captain Jacob Naylor upped the ante at close to a run-a-ball.

Another two quick wickets left South Canterbury at 65/4, however their skipper continued to play positively as Mid Canterbury sent fielders to the boundary rope.

When Naylor and Shaun Rooney were dismissed in consecutive overs to leave the visitors six down, plans to charge the total were aborted as the hosts circled – not unlike what occurred against Otago Country before Christmas.

Two wickets in the final over from Tom Middleton came in vain for Mid Canterbury as play was called off moments later.

The 24th and final over of the match appeared to be brought into question with Mid Canterbury Cricket admitting that due to a “rule misinterpretation”, play should have been pulled an over earlier.

Mid Canterbury is now in a three-way share of the lead of Zone 4 alongside Otago Country and Southland ahead of its final match against North Otago in Oamaru this weekend.

Black arm bands were worn by both teams in acknowledgment of South Canterbury Cricket Patron and Life Member John Ward and Mid Canterbury Cricket Life Member Peter Bain who both passed away over the past fortnight.

By Adam Burns © The Ashburton Guardian - 19 January 2021