ST. ALBANS MAKES 258

Press, Volume LXXXV, Issue 25740, 28 February 1949, Page 9

ST. ALBANS MAKES 258

I CRICKET

LEADING TEAMS MEET

p. ARNOLD AGAIN SCORES WELL Although 10 batsmen made more than 50 runs, there was a refreshingly moderate note about the scoring when the senior cricket competition entered its ninth round on Saturday. The outfields were still extraordinarily fast, but most pitches helped the spin bowlers to turn the ball and only one team scored more than 300 runs. East Christchurch scored 394 against Lancaster Park. East Christchurch, in the first post-war seasons, had a reputation for unduly cautious cricket, but this season it has been one of the most enterprising teams in the grade. Its performance on Saturday was an excellent one. Most interest was taken in the meeting of the two leading teams, St. Albans and Old Boys. St. Albans was dismissed for 258 and by stumps Old Boys had lost two wickets in reducing the deficit to 163. West Christchurch played itself into a strong position against Old Collegians, but the match between Sydenham and Riccarton is at a most interesting stage Scores: — St. Albans 258; Old Boys 95 for two wickets. East Christchurch 394; Lancaster Park 8 for no wickets. Sydenham 203; Riccarton 176 for eight wickets. West Christchurch 281; Old Collegians 57 for three wickets. The highest score of the day was made by P. Arnold, the consistent young opening batsman for West Christchurch, whose 95 brought his aggregate to 663, more .than 150 ahead of his nearest rival. Arnold scored 168 in the previous match, and he might well have been rewarded With a second consecutive century. W H Walters scored 94 not out in a patient display for East Christchurch, and J Reece made 80 for Sydenham. Other good scorers were D. T. Ager 73, R G Condliffe 65, M. Besley 62, M. Stanley 61, L. F. Townsend 59, F. P. O’Brien 58, and A. T. Burgess 52. A. R. Mac Gibbon (Old Collegians) obtained the best bowling figures, six for 64. Three other bowlers took five wickets—R. H. Scott (Riccarton), J. Harliwich (Sydenham), and C. G. Snook (Old Boys). Old Boys v. St. Albans St. Albans’ score of 258 against Old Boys was only a moderately good one, and at one stage it seemed that the side would have a struggle to reach 200. In the morning St. Albans, after losing G. Coull at 19, made steady progress. Coull’s wicket was taken by J. D. Alderson, who was given the new ball for the first time, and made good use of it. He bowled with far more spirit and life than in most previous games, and appeared to achieve a faster pace. For St. Albans, O’Brien played another good innings. He has scored 320 runs in his last five innings, and is playing with a sureness of touch reminiscent of his palmy days. • On Saturday he was more restrained than usual, but his partnership with M. B. Poore, which gave St. Albans 75 runs in 55 minutes, set them on the road to a good score. Poore batted well, and it seemed that the pair Would go through to lunch. Ten minutes before the interval, however, Poore hit one hard to L. H. Fisher in the covers and was well caught. At lunch the score was 97 for two wickets. After lunch, R. F. Cook bowled some excellent overs, and O’Brien, with J. Smith as his partner, was far from comfortable. Cook’s flighting troubled O’Brien «and C. G. Snook, attacking Smith’s leg stump, with a well-set field, gave Old Boys an important success when Smith lifted one to Alderson at deep square leg. Smith had looked likely to make his usual big score against Old Boys, but the policy of allowing him rope with which to hang himself paid dividends. With three wickets down for 127, the game Was evenly balanced, but 10 runs later O’Brien, after batting two hours, was beaten by Snook. Cook was then changed to the south end, to give him the use of the end which was taking most spin, and he beat P. Z. Harris and N. S. McCann in quick succession, to make the score 157 for six.

Townsend, who had make a quick century in his previous innings, had to toil for his runs against accurate bowling, but a partnership of 59 with V. Smith, who defended stoutly, regained some ground for St. Albans. Both R. C. Webb and D. Stark gave valuable assistance, and in the circumstances the final score of 258 was a fair one. For Old Boys, Snook took five wickets, and repeated his earlier success against St. Albans, when he had a match analysis of 10 for 110. He bowled with admirable steadiness, and moved the ball off the wicket enough to worry the batsmen. P. Small looked a little stale, but Cook had two splendid spells, and Alderson gave his best performance to date.

Old Boys lost their first two wickets for 37, and St. Albans scented blood, but Old Boys’ new captain, J. G. Leggat, resolutely refused to admit that the situation was critical and played a typically phlegmatic and solid innings, which was relieved by an occasional bold drive through the covers. In the early stages, J. McMaster bowled with great determination, and Townsend was inexpensive. Fisher batted with some freedom, and at stump* his partnership with Leggat had realised 58 and had put Old Boys in a fairly good position. The umpires were Messrs H. W. Gourlay and B. Vine. WEST CHRISTCHURCH v. OLD COLLEGIANS The third and fourth teams in the competition, West Christchurch and C7ld Collegians, met at Elmwood Park. West Christchurch’s good score of 281 was made possible by a fine second-wicket partnership between Arnold and Ager, who scored 163 together in 146 minutes. In the morning P. H. T. Alpers bowled well, without success, but the others did not look particularly impressive. The first wicket fell at 6, but from that point the Old Collegians’ attack seemed to lack purpose and direction. M. J. Moffatt and F. J. Shaw were allowed to bowl at the very times when a tight rein was essential. Once Arnold was out—the third wicket to —Old Collegians regained a control which should never have been so completely lost, and with Mac Gibbon bowling at his best, wickets fell very quickly. Arnold’s performances this season have been remarkable for so young a player. In 15 innings he has failed to score 20 only four times, and in his last four innings he has made 364 runs. Arnold is not a brilliant batsman, and his stroke equipment is limited, but his powers of concentration his determination are assets which should carry him a long way. Anything loose he hit very hard, with all his usual strength on the leg side, and It was his nrst careless stroke which cost him his wicket, only five short of another century Ager’s innings was his best of the season, and as good a display as he has given for a long time. He started rather uncertainly, but later played beautiful cricket. Ager's footwork could well be studied by cricketers of greater renown. Against the slow bowlers he was at his best, moving flown the wicket and driving firmly and correctly. He also used a good variety ®f other neat, safe strokes. After Ager and Arnold were out, the only batsman to achieve distinction was R. Dudley, who was run out when he had made 22. Dudley has taken some little time to find his feet in senior cricket, but on his perform - ance he should- be worth many runs next season. He drove very strongly indeed. ~“er Arnold was caught in the slips, ®p d G. Gearry threw his wicket away, « . b° n was in complete command, and wnh A]p ers achieving a belated reward xor h ls earlier good work, the last seven wickets fell for 75. Mac Gibbon bowled with accuracy and pace, and his performance improved what had looked to be a losing hand. .Gid Collegians made heavy weather of fne west Christchurch bowling in the last minutes, losing three wickets for 57. ? n ° the situation might have been worse “?d it not been for the stubborn defence who opened the innings and was in at stumps with 24 to his credit. rne umpires were Messrs W. W. Dunkley and T. H. Garbutt. east Christchurch v. Lancaster

„ PARK f. Dennis, the former Yorkshire professional. made his first appearance for Lancaster Park, but had an unfortunate introduction to local cricket. The match was played on the back ground at Lancaster Park, and the combination of an easy wicket and fiery outfield made life difficult for bowlers. East Christchurch, nowever, should be given every credit lor a good display, which was notable, among other things, for the fact that six oatsmen scored 30 runs or more. nw e °P enin B pair, Stanley and Condinn’ set the pace with a partnership of 109 in 85 minutes, both playing attractive criaket. Stanley is one of the most, batsmen in the competition, 4 tn a record of 10 scores of 20 or more: « attempts. He played some fine strokes, and although he made more misxaKe* than his partner, his was a good tgnmgs- Condliffe presents a most intercase °f reversal of form. In his ®rst 11 innings this year, he scored 101 7j n . E; since he was promoted to open the “JJJings, he has scored 173 runs in five mnings. On Saturday he gave a particularly good display, driving and hooking vigorously and playing most of his ha d S wilk the ease of most good left

After the opening partnership was Broken, Lancaster Park got back into the game with the quick fall of several wickets, and the score when V. James and waiters came together was 143 for four Wiekets. The pair scored 67 for the fifth • S k ? t * James playing carefully at first ®na later using his wide range of good strokes. Walters and M. Besley further unproved East Christchurch’s position w?th a partnership of 93 for the sixth wicket, achieved in only 57 minutes. Besley was very aggressive, and his score. was his highest in senior cricket, wnne Walters went on his careful way. • Promoted junior in P. Rollinson showed good form in scoring 30. his best stroke a well-timed on drive. With Wali* scored 61 the seventh wicket. waiters seemed certain to score a cen-

hi £ la u st two Partners were both run out and he was left six short of th S Walters’ innings provided h^Tcr^ olid * the quicker scoring batsmen to build on, and for that alone he 'hm interesting effort. Although J? e d * no t score quickly, he was very correct and watchful, and his occasional dn y es - provided his innings with touches of colour. s L. Mahoney again bowled with great heart, but both his successes were early ones and he did not look dangerous. Al the end of the Innings, he was only seven short of having 1000 runs off his bowling, this season, but he has compensation irr tne knowledge that he has bowled most overs. Dennis, moving the ball from the leg and bowling a much quicker one at. times, was never collared, but the best bowling figures were those of M. Chapple, who took three for 32. His success was unexpected, for he had taken only two wickets this season, for nearly 300 runs. The umpires were Messrs H. Wilson and H. C. Moore.

SYDENHAM v. RICCARTON r After losing two wickets for 20, Sydeni ham made a good recovery against Rici carton, only to lose the last seven wickets , quickly and finish with the modest total of 203. Burgess and Reece, in a third wicket partnership of 124. both showed ' their best form. Reece, in particular, impressed with his clever on side placing and stylish driving. Since he returned to the senior team, Reece has been consistently successful, and on Saturday he showed the form which, two years ago, made him one of the most promising of the province’s colts. He gave no chances, and handled Scott with every confidence. Burgess, too, played well, and batted in the manner which marked his early innings this season. His was a well-deserved half-cen-tury. A. J. Sutherland, who has not been seen in the senior team for some time, made a useful 27, but the others . did little of note. Scott took five wickets, and bowled well to get most of them. On a slow but turning wicket, he slowed down a little and tended to spin the ball from the off rather than cut it. He bowled accurately, without a rest, throughout the morning, and took wickets quickly in the afternoon. For Riccarton, W. M. Strachan showed all his old speed and accuracy at cover. Riccarton lost its first three wickets for 36, but Scott and R. Cullen scored 30 for the fourth wicket and Cullen and J. Jacobs added a further 41 for the. fifth wicket. Cullen's 41 was his fourth good score in succession, and he played many good shots. Jacobs, who made an unbeaten double century in the last match, scored a quick and confident 30 before he failed to get properly on to a full toss and was caught. Wickfets fell rapidly near the end of the day, but in the last quarter of an hour Strachan and O. Whitford brought Riccarton back into the game by adding 22 and staying together. For Sydenham, Harliwich bowled well. His swing did not look dangerous, but the ball be brought back quickly from the off troubled the batsmen. N. V. Burtt took only one wicket, but earned four or five. He beat nearly all the batsmen repeatedly, but had no luck. ’Hie umpires were Messrs W. Barnes and C. Baldwin. DETAILED SCORES St. Albans 258 (F. P. O’Brien 58. M. B. Poore 30, J. Smith 21, L. F. Townsend 59, V. Smith 17, R. C. Webb 14, D. Stark 12; J. D. Alderson, three for 47; C. G. Snook, five for 59; R. F. Cook, two for 55); Old Boys 95 for two wickets (J. G. Leggat 40 not out, L. H. Fisher 31 not out; G. Coull, one for 30; J. McMaster, one for 22). West Christchurch 281 (P. Arnold 95, D. T. .Ager 73. G. Gearry 19, R. Dudley 22, A. E. MacDonald 12; P. H. T. Alpers, two for 77; A. R. Mac Gibbon, six for 64; D. R Farrant, one for 28); Old Collegians 57 for three wickets (F. J. Shaw 24 not out, M. J. Moffat 14; Gearry, one for 12; J. S. Patrick, one for 27; L. Smith, one for 10 East Christchurch 394 (M. Stanley 61, R G. Condliffe 65, V. James 39, W. H. Walters 94 not out, M. Besley 62, L. Rollinson 30, G. Pitcher 13; L. Mahoney, two for 136; F. Dennis, two for 90; R. Hitchcock, one for 57; M. Chapple, three for 32); Lancaster Park 8 for no wickets. Sydenham 203 (J. Reece 80, I. Cummings 10, A. T. Burgess 52, A. J. Sutherland 27, D O’Malley 17; R. H. Scott, five for 65; D. Thomas, three for 78); Riccarton 176 for eight wickets (Dawson 14. Scott 15. J. Jacobs 30, R. Cullen 41. W M. Strachan 26 not out L Newman 14, O. Whitford 12 not out; J. Harliwich, five for 60; H. McCree, one for 33; N. V. Burtt, one for 41; Burgess, one for 16). |