FINE BOWLING BY J. BOOKER

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25367, 15 December 1947, Page 9

FINE BOWLING BY J. BOOKER

CRICKET

NINE WICKETS IN INNINGS FOURTH ROUND GAMES COMPLETED Although conditions were again much in favour of batsmen when the fourth round ox the senior cricket competition was completed on Saturday, several bowlers enjoyed outstanding success, ahd J. Booker, of West Christchurch, gave the best bowling performance of the season in taking nine St. Albans wickets for 41 runs. Booker bowled well last season, but this summer he has made a definite advance, ahd must be reckoned as ohe of the province’s best bowlers. Bis figures on Saturday were remarkable, but irt earlier games Booker has also bowled excellently, and so far this season he has taken 25 wickets at an average cost Of 11 runs, second only to the Old Boys pair, P. Small and C. G. Snook. Both T. Burtt (St. Albans) and R. H. Scott (Riccarton) took a total of, 10 wickets in their matches, and both seem in good form for the representative match next week.

The highest score of the day was made by R. H. Gould (Old Collegians), with an excellent 91 agaihst East Christchurch. Gould, who played a few innings in senior last season, had a great rim di success in second grade matches this season, and this innitigS should earn him a permanent place in the senior team. Two other Old Collegians’ batsmen scored well, C. V. Walter making 75 and A. R. Mac Gibbon 58 not out, and fdr West Christchurch the consistent R. W. G. Emery scored a solid 76. For East Christchurch, M. W. Stanley scored 53 not but. Only three games were played on Saturday, Old Boys having beaten Sydenham by an innings on the first day. Results

West Christchurch beat St. Albahs by 110 runs. Riccarton beat Lancaster Park by 174 rtifiS. Old Collegians beat East Christchurch by 50 runs on the first innings. Competition points are as follows: Old Boys 35, West Christchurch 31, Lancaster Park 20, Riccarton 20, St. Albans 15, East Christchurch 7, Old Collegians 7j Sydenham 1. WfeST CHRISTCHURCH V. ST. ALBANS The last two St. Albans wickets fell in the first 10 minutes of the mormhg play, and the side was out for 140 , 42 behind West Christchurch’s first innings score. J. S. Patrick and R. W. G. Emery, each of whom had taken four wickets oh the first day, added another to his tally. West Christchurch was in a good position, but slow batting befbrb lunch and a collapse later in the innings gave St. Albahs an excellent chance of an outright win. Emery took two hours to score 76, but it was his innings dlone which kept his side’s head above water. He defended stoutly against accurate bowling, and took full toll of anything loose, particularly on the leg side. When he was dismissed West Christchurch was losing ground, and the eighth Wicket fell at 135, far too small a lead against such a fast scoring side aS St. Albans. Then J. E. Brazil, a young left-hander, and M. Johnston added 52 for the ninth wicket ih a partnership which saved the match. Both batted coolly, and mdßt be,, given credit for good displays, but at a critical stage of the game the direction of the St. Albans attack seemed a little loose and the batsmen, both tail enders, scored many of the runs needed by their side from inadequate change bowling. West Christchurch was finally out for 189, leaving St. Albans 135 minutes to score 232 runs. In the early stages of the innings J. McMaster bowled well, and T. Burtt spun the ball cleverly, while keeping, a good length, to take a further six wickets. St. Albans’s chance of winning, not par*ticularly bright when the .innings began, was almost completely reduced when the dismissal of the opening batsmen was followed by the overthrow of the two quickest scoring batsmen, J. Smith and F. P. O’Brien. Four wickets fell for 29, all of them to the good bowling of Booker, and he took another before his first bowling spell ended. At that stage he had taken five for 27 off nine overs, the reward of some beautiful bowling. With all hope of winning removed. St. Albans made a fair attempt to save the game. G. Rowe and A. Spence stayed together for a time, and then Rowe and Bavley remained for a critical 22 minutes. Booker’s return to the crease brought further success to West Christchurch, and the ninth wicket fell wnen Rowe was out after batting for nearly an hour. He was dismissed by an exceptionally good catch by the West Christchurch wicketkeeper, W. Burton, Who flung himself full length to take a catch almost on the ground on the leg side. The last two St. Albans batsmen played out 15 of the remaining 30 minutes, but a perfect length ball from Booker which pitched on the leg stump and took the off stump ended the game. In his second spell Booker took four for 14. and he thoroughly earned his success. He has a particularly easy action, and while nib chief weapon is the dangerous ball which leaves the batsman late, he sometimes makes his out-swinger straighten up in a disconcerting way. He was supported oy some first-class catching.

LANCASTER PARK V. RICCARTON Lancaster Park’s first innings ehded 10 minutes after the start ol play, the side finishing with 143, 89 behind Riccarton s first innings score. Riccarton began its second innings brightly, L. Newman and O. Whitford scoring at a good pace to take the score to 87 for one wicket by lunch. Whitford made the most of two very poor overs from P. O'Malley, from which 28 runs were taken. Riccarton failed to press home its advantage after lunch, and four more wickets fell for 26 runs. L. Mahoney had been absent in the morning, but his appearance after lunch improved the weak Lancaster Park attack. When Riccarton seemed in danger of losing its winning position, J. Jacobs, the captain, scored 28 in 18 minutes, but the ninth wicket fell at 165. Had Lancaster Park been able to capture the last wicket immediately, the issue would have Leen a very open one, but the batsmen, R. Stuart ahd R. King, added 58 invaluable runs in quick time. Stuart did nearly all the scoring, and in one over from I. B. Cromb he hit three huge straight drives well over the boundary. He scored 40 in 27 minutes before the innings was declared closed, leaving Lancaster Park three hours to score 313. Riccarton had scored 223 in 155 minutes, a good performance. For Lancaster Park, W. Pollitt took the bowling honours. He began erratically, but bowled with admirable steadiness when the early Riccarton batsmen were scoring quickly off his colleagues. Lancaster Park was set a difficult task, but never looked like accomplishing it. R. H. Scott bnWled with energy and real life, and wickets fell at regular intervals. R. Davey scored 41 in half an hbur before being run but, and Pollitt showed glimpses of his old form in scoring 25, but the match was over before 5 p.m. Scott completed a fine double, taking in all 10 wickets for 96, ahd scoring 75 and 8 with the bat. In Lancaster Park’s second innings the Riccarton Wicket-keeper, Whitford, allowed his first byes in four ihnings, and he has allowed only three byes in the last 445 runs scored against his side. In the same period he took seven catches and made one stumping.

OLD COLLEGIANS v. EAST CH.CH. With one wicket down for 41 in reply tb a total of 297, Old Collegians had little chance of an outright win against East Christchurch, and the early batsmen settled down to tire out the bowlers. This

ipmw* wewymt u paid dividends, and. to the early batsmen, C. V. Walter and M. J. Moffatt, must go much of tile success achieved by Old Collegians in a bitterly-contested game. | Walter scored 76 at the rate of 19 an hour, and Moffatt scored 31 at the same babe. The wicket gave the bowlers ho assistance, ahd While they had flattering aver-, ages till late in the day, the patient plodscore 108 ,ih 83 mihtites after tea. Old Collegians Jost the second wicket early in the day, but at lunch Walter and J. C. Saunders had taken the score to 37, 56 being added in thd morning’s play. Moffatt Was in half an hour before scoring, a period in which Walter made 5, and M. Lohrey’s first 20 overs ebst only 16 tuns. R. Taplin, who had not bowled an Over before lunch, had only four runs scored off 54 balls after the interval. The batsmen continued to exhibit a patience which did them credit, even if it prficticMUy, converted the scene into study in still life. Walter achieved 60 after being at the wickets fot 188 mihutefe, but both batsmen were Out before tea, When the score Was 196 for six wickets. Four hours’ batting had pfbduced 155 runs. At that stage East Christchurch, dn the mathematics of the game, seemed to have a fair chance, but the bowlers’ earlier efforts had had their effect, and Old Collegians made the remaining runs With sqme degree of comfort Gould, a left-hander, played particularly attractive cricket. Quick on.his feet, he used many good strokes, and he was the senior partner in a profitable association. Lohrey’s figures of 27 overs for 22 runs werfe changed to 30 overs for 39 runs, the look of the game having changed completely. Five overs from Taplin cost 39 runs, and Gould continued to bat freely until he was caught iti the outfield With his score at 91. Mac Gibbon also played well, particularly as he gained confidence, and the game was virtually over 80 minutes before stumps, when Old Collegian gained the first innings lead. The infiihgs Wds declared closed 50 funs later, and .the efforts of the later batsmen had raised the scoring rate for the whole innings to Ohe run a minute. For East Christchurch, Lohrey bowled accurately and well on a discouraging wicket and against heartbreaking batsmen. Taplin also impressed, in spite of his expensive spell, and F. Newton, in taking three wickets, showed signs of regaining some of the form Which earned him a Canterbury cap before the war. The East Christchurch fielding was good in the early stages, with J. MfcNaughton especially prominent in the covers, but it wilted a little under the considerable strain imposed upon it. The game ended with some lighthearted batting by East Christchurch. Some of the bowlers used are kept in reserve for such occasions, and may not grace the crease again this season, but M. Stanley, in scorihg an unbeaten halfcentury, Showed he has recovered his good form of last summer.

Detailed Scores West Christchurch, 182 and 189 (W. Burton 10, R. W. G. Emery 76, P. Arnold 14, J. Brazil 37, M. Johnston 23 hot Out; J. McMaster, two for 51; F. P. O’Brien, One for 20; A. Saunders, one for 37; T. Burtt, six for 49); St. Albans, 140 (J. S. Patrick, five for 49; Emery, five for 53), and 121 (Burtt 10, G. Coull 12, N. S. McCann 11, G. Rowe 23, N. Bayley 11, McMaster 21 not out: J. Booker, nine for 41; Emery, ohe for 26).

Riccarton, 238 and 223 for nine Wickets, declared (L. Newman 43, O. Whitford 49, W M. Strachan 18, J. Jacobs 28, R. Stuart 40 not out; W. Pollitt, four for 39; I. B. Cromb, three for 97; L. Mahoney, two for 21); Lancaster Park, 149 (G. Dryden 17 not out; R. H. Scott, five for 46; Stuart, tWp for 23; A. Candlish, two for 68), and 138 (Mahoney 16, R. T. Dowker 15, P. O’Malley 11, R. F. Davey 41, Pollitt 25, H. C. Waine 10; Scott, five for SO; Caridlish, two for 59; Stuart, one for 23).

East Christchurch, 297 and 76 for one wicket (M. Stanley 53 not out, R. Peacock 13 ndt out; N. L. Macbeth, one for 28); Old Collegians, 347 for nine wickets, declared (J. C. Saunders 24, C. V. Walter 75, M. J. Moffatt 31, R. A. Gould 91, A. R. Mac Gibbon 58 not out, P, Sheppard 15; M. Marshall, one for 48; M. Lohrey, two for 39; F. Newton, thrbe for 61; R. Taplin, two for 73; J. McNaughton, one for 17).

LOWER GRADES SECOND GRADE A St. Albans 300 for six declared and 88 for six beat Lancaster Park 126 and 267 (Empson 56) by four wickets. High School Old Boys 285 for five declared beat Old Collegians 31 and 193 (Byrne 66, Norman 53) by an innings attd 61 runs. For Old Boys, Leonard took five for 46. West Old Boys 269 and 44 for five beat Sydenham 139 and 172 (Young 78) by five wickets. SECOND GRADE B St. Bede’s Old Boys 96 ahd 236 beat High School Old Boys 218 and 110 (Sloane 70) by four runs. For St. Bede’s, Lynskey took five for 50; for Old Boys McLachlan took six for 70. East Christchurch 187 and 154 for four (Barkle 52) beat West Christchurch 220 and 112 outright by six wickets. For East Christchurch, Sibley took five for 38; for West Christchurch Steere took six for 35. Riccarton 383 (Stewart 91) and 10 for two wickets beat Sydenham 181 and 208 (Cummins 67, Bellamy 64) by eight wickets. For Riccarton, Bull took five for 60. University 292 and 133 for five declared (Johnsoh 60) beat St. Albans 213 (Hooper 54) and 116 for three (Shanahan 52 not out) by 79 runs On the first innings.

''SECOND GRADE C West Christchurch-Wigram 194 (Moran 63) and 46 for seven beat Boys’ High School 190 and 142 for three declared (Reid 66) by four runs On the first innings. For School, McGregor took five for 46, and in the second innings Alderson took five for 14.

Riccarton 109 end 83 for six beat St. Albans-Trainihg College 102 ahd 86 by four wickets. For Riccarton, Dowie took five for 26.

Sydenham 163 beat West Old BoyS 85 and 71 by an innings and 7 runs. For Sydenham Harliwick took five fdr 36. PRESIDENT’S GRADE Old Collegians 146 for eight (Armitage 60 not out) beat East Christchurch 137 by nine runs on the first innings. For Old Collegians. Armitage took five for 20. West Old Boys 197 for four declared (Hurrell 101 not out) drew with Technical Old Boys 72 for seven. For West, Free took four for 13. THIRD grade a High School Old Boys 230 beat University 52 and 127 by an innings and 51 runs. Riccarton 229 and 15 for two beat St. Albans 122 and 114 by eight wickets.

THIRD GRADE B Lancaster Park 183 ahd 30 for no wicket beat Sydehham 93 and 106 (Harliwick 50) by 10 wickets. For Lancaster Park Craw took eight for 28. St. Bede’s Old Boys 177 and 21 for six beat Cathedral 95 and 95 by four wickets. For St. Bede’s Cummings took nine for 41. West Christchurch 103 and 110 beat East Christchurch 91 and 118 by four runs. For West Christchurch Hawk took five fbr 22; for East Christchurch Johnston took five for 40.

FOURTH GRADE A Lancaster Park B 120 for nine declared (McNicholl 56) and 39 for two beat Cathedral 63 and 76 by eight wickets. For Park Bamford took five for 22, and in the second innings McNicholl took six for 37. Riccarton 101 (Carter 00) beat St. Albans 67 by 34 runs on the first innings. For Riccarton Fantham took five for 18. Sydenham A 157 beat Sydenham B 130 (Watts 70) by 27 runs on the first innings. For Sydenham A, Reardon took five for 41; for Sydenham B, Findlay took five for 45. St. Bede’s Old Boys 175 for five declared (Kenny 75 ribt out) beat St. Albans B 87 and 79 by an innings and nine runs. For St. Bede’s, Walsh took five fdr 8.