RAIN SPOILS PLAY

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 70, Issue 46, 5 December 1949, Page 5

RAIN SPOILS PLAY

CRICKET

SATURDAY’S MATCHES

Teams batting first in Saturday’s local cricket competition games were at a decided advantage, as the outfield in the opening stages was very fast, and most wickets played truly. However, heavy rain set in shortly before the tea adjournment, and some games were abandoned.

Throughout the day, however, the senior bowlers were always on top, and the highest score was only 44 by L. Kerr (Star). Highlight of the junior competition was the performance by Lauriston in scoring 146 runs in an hour against a weakened High School team.

Third grade teams appear to be gaining confidence, clearly illustrated by the good score of, IS9 by High School. In the senior grade Fairfield, by defeating Technical Old Boys, took the lead in the competitions. Senior matches were:—

Old Boys v. Star In an unspectacular game on the Domain Oval, Old Boys and Star drew. Batting first, Star could do little against a fairly accurate attack, and as a result, scoring was mostly in singles. After having three wickets down for 93, they lost four more wickets before the century was reached. Mainly responsible for this was G. Weir, who, in his first five overs, took five wickets for six runs. However, T. Spicer brightened matters up for Star with a good exhibition of hard hitting, and the team was all out for 172 (L. Kerr 44, including 20 singles, Spicer 39 with six fours and one six), while Weir’s figures read five for 37, with N. Bell and P. Zouch sharing the other wickets.

On a greasy wicket the Old Boys’ batsmen were subdued, being content to keep their wickets intact. Tlje conditions were then all in favour of the bowlers and although D. McKay, the medium-fast Star bowler did not secure a wicket, he bowled eight overs (five of them maidens) for eight runs. Because of rain, stumps were drawn shortly after 6 p.m. with Old Boys three wickets for 52 (I. M. Hamilton 17, H. Cullen 14 not out) while for Star, J. Holloway took two for 13, and A. Todd 1 for 19.

Fairfield v.'T.0.8.

On the Technical ground, Fairfield defeated Technical Old Boys by 35 runs on the first innings’ in a lowscoring match. Against a hostile attack lead by N. Nottle, the Fairfield batsmen* were never comfortable and were out for a modest 99 (C. Price 35, C. Robertson 15). Nottle produced some of the form which earned him a place in the representative team two seasons ago, his six wickets costing only 27 runs, with P. Roulston taking two for 25.

Technical started more disastrously even than Fairfield, gnd had five wickets down for 15 runs. Mainly responsible for the “damage” was C. Robertson, who took all five wickets. The tail-enders made the score a little more respectable, but the side' was all out for a poor 64 (P. Porter 17, W. Lee 10). Robertson finished with five wickets for 15 runs, an excellent performance. Other. wickettakers were C. Price two for 25 and D. Wesley three for 21. JUNIOR' MATCHES High School batted first against Lauriston and scored 166. This total included 36 by G. Willoughby), 18 by G. Parsons, 12 by C. Smith, 23 by N. Evans, and 11 by P. Bain. Bowling for Lauriston the Ashworth -brothers were responsible for five of the wickets for a tally of 96. Lauriston’s first hour at the wickets produced 146, and their innings ended at 174 for two, which fell to W. Whitehead and N. Evans respectively. The principal scorers were C. Ashworth 71 (include ing one six and 14 fours) and G. Douglas 68 (14 fours) and B. Hooper 2i not out.

Technical School played Methven. the latter taking first strike and putting up 132 (J. Mclntyre 35, J. Hooper 27, S. Bufton 17, D. Hayes 15 and D. Wootton 30). For Technical, C. Hendrie took four for 50 and S. K. Carswell four for 53. Rain ended play when Technical had made 47, to which the principal contributors were Carswell 12 not out, R. Brassell 11, and J.’ Hydes 10. Bowling for Methven, Mclntyre took three for 20. Technical Old Boys batted first against Old Boys, making 184, with E. Fahey 62, L. Cornwall 20, and R. Carrol 20 the principal scorers. Wickets were taken by A. Thomas (two for 32), V. Thomas (two for 40), L. Hart (three for 20) and P. Capon (two for 23). Old Boys replied with. 144 for eight when stumps were drawn. Most successful batsmen were Capon 34, L. Hart 17, M. Hart 23 and V. Thomas 22, while B. Sutherland bowled most successfully, taking four of Old Boys’ wickets for 28. The match was drawn.

THIRD GRADE High School played Old Boys, winning on the first innings by a margin of SO runs. School batted first, putting on 189 (D. Ng 49, P. Hamil 47, D. Walker 16, M. Todd 14, J. Gluyas 13. For Old Boys, D. Heft’ord secured five wickets for 26 and B. Bruce four for 60. Old Boys replied with 109 (Bruce 4S, B. Quaid 25', B. Burgess 15). J. Gluyas took seven for 47 and Walker two for 27.

■Technical Old Boys won by default from Technical School.