Hawke Cup prep hampered by rain
The Canterbury Country senior cricket team’s warm-up match with South Canterbury was a wash out on Sunday.
Country were set to head to Aorangi Oval in Timaru to take on South Canterbury but it was abandoned as steady rain overnight meant the outfield was too wet.
But the weather did play ball on Friday, when the Canterbury Country Emerging Player XI had a convincing win over Mid Canterbury at MainPower Oval in Rangiora.
Country sent Mid Canterbury in to bat and in a four over spell cleaned out the middle order before the visitors tail wagged.
Ethan Hobbs took two early wickets to have Mid Canterbury at 28/2 in the eighth over. From the 10th to the 14th over the Mid Canterbury wheels fell off, crashing to 37/3.
Number nine batsman Scott Punselie swung hard for his 34 off 38 balls to push the visitors through to 92 all out in the 27th over.
Mitch Ross did most of the damage taking 4/18 for Country. Will Williams collected 2/19 and Hobbs finished with 2/9 from his five over spell.
With the modest total, opener Toby Doyle put his head down for a well compiled 45 to guide Country to the win in the 25th over.
After losing Joel Williams (1) early on Doyle and Harry Chamberlain (15) put on 32 for the second wicket.
Tim Harrison (29*) then joined Doyle and the pair finished the job for the hosts.
This weekend a North Canterbury selection will take on ‘‘South Country’’ team in a 50 over match at Sefton.
The Country seniors then meet Canterbury A and Otago A in twoday matches over consecutive weekends, before starting their Hawke Cup qualifying.
Country start their campaign to get the cup back against the team that took it off them, hosting Buller on December 11-12.
Country then host Marlborough and are away to Nelson in January.
The Country premier one-day competition resumes with the final round this Saturday.
The top four is set to be Southbrook, Lincoln, LeestonSouthbridge and defending champions Sefton, but home-field advantage is still on offer with the four teams all square on 27 points.