Former Canterbury first-class batsman Shanan Stewart has had a performance to remember in his new role as player, coach and captain of Hawke Cup holders Canterbury Country.
Stewart, 33, spent the weekend composing an unbeaten triple century for Canterbury Country in their first zone match against Nelson at Rangiora's Mainpower Oval — as the historic Hawke Cup, cricket’s equivalent of the Ranfurly Shield, gets polished and ready to go on the line again of another season.
Stewart was in sublime touch and declared after taking a single to reach 300 for the first time in his career.
He had resumed on Sunday on 209, and ultimately faced 363 balls to maintain an impressive strike rate of 82.64, with a stand of 280 for the third wicket on Saturday with opener Matt Laffey, who weighed in with 140 and 19 boundaries.
Stewart then dominated an unbroken fifth wicket stand worth 280 with Hawke Cup debutant Kyle Jamieson, who posted 108 from 163 deliveries before Canterbury Country ended Nelson's torment a ball into the 153rd over at 622/4 in a one-sided encounter.
Stewart had retired from first-class cricket in April 2014 with a then-highest score of 227 not out against the Devon Hotel Central Stags.
The short scorecard: Canterbury Country 622/4 (Shanan Stewart 300*, Matt Laffey 140, Kyle Jamieson 108*; Jo O'Connor 3-128) drew with Nelson 102/1 (Daniel Cooper 67*).
