Canterbury maintained its unbeaten record and closed on a Shell Super Max league semi-final position when it comfortably beat Central Districts by 23 runs at Jade Stadium (Lancaster Park) last night.

Hard-hit half centuries by Mark Hastings (first innings) and Chris Cairns (second innings) laid the foundation for substantial scores by Canterbury.

Hastings, promoted to open the batting, obliged hammering 57 off 26 balls with nine fours and two sixes to send Canterbury away to the a flying start after Central had put Canterbury in.

Hastings and Brad Doody shared a profitable partnership which helped carry Canterbury to 123 for three in its first innings.

After constraining Central to 89 for six, Canterbury powered away again in its second innings. Cairns, who opened in the second innings, gave full rein to his talents blasting 57 from 20 balls.

English professional Tim Walton, making his Canterbury debut, finished the innings with a flourish by striking 31 in 11 balls.

That left Central with a monumental 172 to win which not surprisingly proved beyond it despite a determined display from newcomer David Kelly and Craig Findlay, who cracked 66 off 22 balls.

Short scoreboard:

Canterbury 123-3 (M Hastings 57, B Doody 38) and 137-4 (C Cairns 57, T Walton 31no, Hastings 22; M Walker 2-30) beat Central Districts 89-6 (S Bond 2-11, C Anderson 2-21) and 148-5 (C Findlay 66, D Kelly 52) by 23 runs.