Davidson, McCord star in Park win
Lancaster Park skipper Michael Davidson is knocking on the Canterbury selection door after belting his second club century of the young summer.
The left-handed opener, who has played nine first class matches and four one-dayers for Canterbury, continued his fine start to the season in the opening round of the Christchurch Metro premier one-day competition on Saturday.
Davidson hit 118 from 109 balls in a dominant 130-run victory over Sydenham at Garrick Park, which included 101 not out from first drop Ben McCord.
The 25-year-old has been the form club batsman in the opening weeks of the season, also hitting 114 not out against St Albans in the first round of the two-day competition.
Davidson and experienced allrounder McCord put on a matchwinning 174-run second wicket stand to get Park through to an imposing 270-3 from their 50 overs.
Sydenham openers Tom Hewison and Dylan Goldstone added 51 for the first wicket, but from there they faltered to be rolled for 140.
Left-arm spinner Theo van Woerkom, who has been among the best club bowlers in Canterbury in recent seasons, was superb with 5-14 from 7.1 overs. He was well supported by offspinner Angus Hamilton, who nabbed 3-29.
Defending 50-over champions Old Boys Collegians showed they will again be the team to beat, triumphing against East Christchurch Shirley by six wickets.
Jeff Case was at the heart of their win, taking 2-32 and then notching 72 not out from 81 balls as OBC chased down 233 with nine overs to spare.
Openers Tom Taylor and David Wakefield set the platform, contributing 92 for the first wicket. Case was the anchor for OBC with Taylor (49), Wakefield (38) and Joel Abraham (31) chipping in with handy knocks.
Seamer James Tapper and offspinner Tom Meyrick shone with the ball, combining for six wickets, as St Albans toppled Riccarton by 73 runs at Hagley Oval.
Riccarton would have fancied their chances chasing 220, but were dismissed for 146 with only Jared Cookson and Ben Raine able to get past 30.
Meyrick frustrated Riccarton’s top order, capturing 3-27, while Tapper picked up a couple of late wickets to finish with 3-20. Rightarm quick Bailen Thatcher was also in the wickets, taking 2-17.
Earlier in the day, Robbie Polson got Saints off to a solid start
with a run-a-ball 51 as he and Greg Dawson added 95 for the opening wicket.
Saints slumped to 116-5, but Matt Holstein (43) and Meyrick (27) ensured they got through to a respectable total.
South African JJ Naude was the star of the show, clubbing a century, as Burnside West Christchurch University ran out 88-run victors over Marist Harewood at Redwood Park.
Naude held the BWCU innings together, scoring 101 of their 165 runs. It was belligerent batting from Naude, who only faced 74 balls and whacked seven fours and six sixes.
Marist Harewood mustered just 77 in reply with Matt Hay the chief destroyer taking 4-18.