SENIOR GAMES BEGIN

Press, Volume LXXXV, Issue 25936, 17 October 1949, Page 3

SENIOR GAMES BEGIN

PICKET

SCORING LOW IN MOST MATCHES EFFECTIVE bowling by A. LAING As might have been expected, scoring J? moderate when the Canterbury Sricet Association’s senior competition Jean on Saturday. Although the weather ad been favourable for preliminary prac*l most batsmen had a start-of-season about their timing and quite jLn bowlers claimed wickets with dearies of indifferent length and direcon Outfields were remarkably fast for ■ ea r]y in the season, but most of the Ljor pitches gave the bowlers some astetance. The main match of the day was bereen Old Boys, competition winners for he last three seasons, and Lancaster Lrk. At the end of the day Old Boys -re* in a very strong position, with a gad of 57 luns and five first innings fckets still to fall. St. Albans was also L a commanding position, against East [hristchurch. but the game between Syd--ham and Riccarton is .still very open. )!d Collegians gained a slight advantage West Christchurch at Elmwood

Lancaster Park 158; Old Boys 215 for five v. ickets. St. Albans 218; East Christchurch 106 and 57 for three wickets. Sydenham 198; Riccarton 169 for nine wickets. West Christchurch 97 and 8 for one wicket; Old Collegians 149. Only three batsmen made scores of sore than 50. They were R. Cullen (Ricjrton'. whose contribution of 86 was sore than half of his side’s stumps score. ’ Smith (St. Albans), who made 85, and r. G. Leggat (Old Boys) 84. Although low bowlers were able to turn the ball eadily, the pitches took spin slowly in lost cases, and it was the bowlers f medium pace and above who did best, ssisted as they were by varying heights t which the ball went through after Piling. Six of them took five wickets more, and the outstanding feat of the iy was that of A. Laing (St. Albans), ■ing. a New Zealand Association footell representative, opened the bowling ir his side against East Christchurch, pd his first 38 balls cost 12 runs, and he |d not take a wicket. In his next 44 ■ns. however, he took seven wickets er only three runs. Laing, a right■nder. who bowls fast-medium, showed rood control of length and direction ■riy in the innings, and he made the lost of a lively pitch. One or two of is later successes were rather lucky nes, but nevertheless it was an impresve performance. Another bowler almost ■w to senior cricket who did well was I. J. Reid, of Old Boys. Bowling mediumiced left arm swingers, he took five rickets for 37. A. R. Mac Gibbon took lx for 31 for Old Collegians, and in the Bne match L. Denia (West Christchurch) jwled with admirable steadiness to get re for 59. For East Christchurch. G. earry took five wickets for 53, and R. ’ Scott, bowling for Riccarton, also took re wickets for 42 runs. Old Boys v. Lancaster Park When R. T. Dowker, Lancaster Park’s lew captain, won the toss against Legit, he had little alternative but to bat rst. The pitch, however, was still damp [om the overnight rain, and for the first pur it presented the batsmen with some ressing problems. In that period Dowker res struck on the lip and had to retire >r a time, and three other batsmen were ismissed, all for a total of 13. Reid, in is first spell, took three for 9 from •ven. overs, and earned his success bv is ability to keep the ball well up to lie batsmen. When I. B. Cromb was joind by C. V. Walter. Lancaster Park bean to regain a little ground. Cromb’s mings was his best for two or three ears. He made only 31. but he seemed > be seeing the ball all the wav and selbrr. had to hurry a stroke. He scored pickly, but very safely, and although his arcing back foot shot was prominent, he lade several very correct and handsome If drives. It was ironical that he should e caught off a full toss—the ball was leered quietly to square leg—-for his Hings had been full of character and proWalter was obviously feeling his way—t was his first innings in senior cricket r a long time—and if he did not always et the middle of the bat to the ball in re early stages, he displayed characterise doggedness, and after a time was tprmg with neat and well-placed strokes. £ *“ n , ch x Lancaster Park had lost half k wicsets for 90, with the former Engs- professional. F. Dennis. 11 not out. ner a prolonged and unimpressive stay tier lunch four more wickets fell for 21. id it was then that Dennis came into •s own. His relationship to Len Hutton ror marriage only, but Dennis wears the mite rose, on his cap. too, and a difficult Nation is bread and meat to such “He took risks, and somrUme--5 1 .the air. but he hit lustilv ? his last wicket partnership with G kart produced 47 much-needed runs , e r" y l h , e best of bowlers.' e a . nd ,keeping a good length .0 Alderson took two good wickets and irther improvement may be expected of McD - Anderson, who Kheii fOT Old Boys, shared a heavy reponsibihtv for m the absence of W. A gdlee and F B. Smith. Old Boys’ bata sketch y- They scored m2rU he F. fi^st wi cket » good time, ©aerson showing extremely good form n J ngS ;u L ’ H ’ Fisher helped ■Kat add 64 for the second wicket, and ws placed Old Boys in a very strong indeed. Leggat began carefully, JI P atte d with real assurance. Dowker ■a his bowlers concentrate on Lesgat’s ■ stump, a tribute to the development f Leggat s off side strokes, but the batsnn scored very steadily and well. About i minutes before stumps, Lancaster Wks total was passed, and at 175 Legwell cau £ht by Dennis in the off M. Chapple. It was a good ball. «ggat playing a forward, defensive only to find the ball run away Ky late to find the edge of his bat. Two more wickets fell for only nine ■ns. but I. A. Baxter and P. Small scored L?, ore before the end, and were still - at the finish. Baxter mixed Mty defence with some good and aggresw strokes, and Small often caught the P”»nen on the wrong foot with his injertent changes of direction. Old Boys ®-“ s a strong position, but on paper at Lancaster Park is a very strong ■rang side, and the second day should J an.interesting one. For Lancaster Chapple bowled well and Dehnis, enough he did not take a wicket, imwith the accuracy of the length ■i. i his leg breaks and top spin*rs.- .L. Mahoney was handicapped by ■injured leg, but G. Smart’s performzL, was d ’"appointing. His uncertain cost his side many runs. J?® Um Pires were Messrs F. H. Rix M R. V. Taylor. St. Albans v. East Christchurch ua a lively pitch, St. Albans lost its two wickets for 12 runs. Gearry J* Dowling well, and the fielding was 5® and accurate, under the captaincy » the former Derbyshire professional, L. p n end a wise choice as leader. f O’Brien played a few good strokes, X « tte was out three were down “ <3. P. z Harris and Smith doubled * score before Harris was out to a JT quick stumping by R. G. Condliffe. wnsend. whose bowling is synonymous accuracy, suffered the indignity of . his first four balls hit for ■“Mane.'—Smith's pull stroke was as E l J ir P ed ard Placed as ever. J. Kid«y helped Smith score 35 for the fifth £? et - but with the total at 133 Smith k. v Condliffe. He had been i at 19 — an easy catch—but his was , lnnm ? s » typical of the generally ok character of his team’s batting. He Zu e- • 85 in on ’y 79 minutes and in boundaries. rl- Alban* passed from a hazardous to 1 w„ sound position with a bright "raership of 67 for the eighth wicket L •'• McMaster and V. Smith. They r" together only 31 minutes. McMasrat one colossal six far into the trees. lin ’- com i n g on late, took three k?ts quickly, but Gearry, although exbu-■»?’ tt was East Christchurch’s best f Ju-i v turne d the ball back from the tft H Ue bowling with some pace, and the ftrpc 6 obtained tested the best of dead nni Bennett, the slow left hander. * him y * W ° overs - anc * Bttle was learned and M W. Stanley started !e East Christchurch, and CondookAH 1 some beautifully timed drives, ickJt specially confident. The third faree at 79, anc * then Laing took r Tn. - and in s Pite of some good hits il the innings crumbled and After such a start, 106 was a s ’JPoi.itmg total. Laing has some prelatl t 0 pace . and a lively action, and Ith Performances will be watched nr^ er - w - Bell, regarded as the of the young spin bowlers. USJ ♦ ? all wel1 ’ but th e batsmen tranaZS T ° have time to make their own Clements about playing him. G W jr-edium left hand, bowled acEast' rrt? - took two cheap wickets, tain followed on and ire. r tickets quickly. Townsend hit Hl fours before being caught off ■ Wau« n chasing a leg break, but W an d Bennett saved face in partnership which was unte tn Tl.sttimps. McMaster bowled with tm/® two* of the three wickets. lfiarn£ Dires were Messrs B - vine and fydprh ßiccarton v - Sydenham k 1? T? tarted badly against steady T. ft-by R. h. Scott, but the captain, 41 and J- Reece took the score hissed ° r „ ree to 91 before Reece was c e nad batted very quietly ftll tn^ n I y ’ but mis-timed a hook off SJhriv 5 'J rnn ' ! Scott. Burgess was par- ? ball b y on g on the leg side and kent faute, f b°wn xVe il. He took only 53 j ar| d most of the later pek useful contributions in H. S M Cameron (28 not out), * decree (25) did best.

For Riccarton B. Cullen played almost, a lone hand. He made 86, and the next highest score was 18. He found form almost immediately with strokes all round the wicket. In W. M. Strachan, the Riccarton captain, he had liis bestand the pair scored 53 for the fifth Wicket in only 33 minutes. CuHen was well beaten by J. Harliwich, and after he left the Riccarton batsmen were worried by Cameron who, after an uncertain start, had found his customary good length and late swing. Harliwich also bowled steadily and well.

The umpires were Messrs T. Hastings and A. Winter.

Old Collegians v. West Christchurch West Cnristchurch batted first at Elmwood Park on a pitch that nad one or two soft spots ana the only oatsmen to show any form were D. T. Ager, J. L. Kerr and the new captain, R. W. G. Emery. Ager batted steadily, and Emery and Kerr, two experienced and capable cricketers, scored 42 in 37 minutes, to make the score 83 for four wickets. The last six wickets, however, advanced the total by only 14, A. R. Mac Gibbon and G L. Perry being in complete charge. Both bowled accurately. Mac Gibbon should enjoy a very successful season, and Perry may make all the progress expec-

Old Collegians started slowly, the score at tea, after 90 minutes’ batting, being 50 for three wickets. D. R. Farrant, a young opening batsman, was slow, but both J. F. Booker and L. Denia were very accurate and Farrant played a very useful innings. When the fiftn wicket fell at 69, Old Collegians was in trouble but R. C. Saunders has not lost his habit of making useful totals when they are most needed. R. H. Gould played some attractive strokes and Perry helped Saunders score 36 for the seventh wicket. Denia moved the ball off the pitch as well as through the air and earned his good figures. West Christchurch lost further ground before stumps, only eight being scored and Perry dismissing L. W. Smith. The umpires were Messrs W. Owens and T. H. Garbutt. DETAILED SCORES T Lancaster Park 15» (R. T. Dowker 10. jc ß^ Cr o mb 32 t c - v - Wte 34 - F - Dennis S'. out - D. J. Reid five toi 36, J. D. Alderson two for 26, R. F. X?? k two for 37, C. G. Snook one for 28); Old Boys 215 for five wickets (W. McD. Anderson 27, L. H. Fisher 35, J. G. LegL A- , Bal S tL ‘ r 32 not out - p - Small 40 not out; L. Mahoney one for 30 K Marsh one for 39, M. Chapple three for

o A .!F ar l s 218 < F - p - O’Brien 19, J. Kiddey 11, V. Smith 46, J. A. McMaster 29; G. Gearry five lor 53 R Cassidy one for 37, L. ,F. Townsend one Sy three for 35); East Chnstrtiurch 106 (M. Stanley 10. R. G. Condliffe 30. W. H. Walters 13. Townsend . ' Lamg seven for 15, McMaster one for 31, G. G. Coull two for 8) and 57 for three wickets (Walters 15 not out Townsend 13, N. Bennett 15 not out; McMaster two for 20, Bell one for 13) Sydenham 198 (D. C. VZilson 19, J « e D 37’ To Burgess 46. H. McCree 25. R. Gerard 13, D. McKnight 18, S M 28 not out I R H. Scott five for J 2, T^ on I as two for 55 - F - Dawson two lorI or A - Candlish one for 48); Riccarton 169 for nine wickets (L. Newman 11 in Cullcn 86. W. M. Strachan 4= out; Cameron four for f 2 2 J Iarllwlch tnree for 56, Burgess two

West Christchurch 97 (L. W. Smith 10 D T. Ager 20, R. W. Emery 21. J. L. Kerr’l9A. R. Mac Gibbon six for 31, G. L. Perry four for 20) and eight for one wicket IPerry one for 0); Old Collegians 149 (D 5) JV?/ 14^ 25 - J - c - Saunders 17. M. J. Moffat 19. R. H. Gould 22. R. C. SaundT = , F - Booker two for 25. J S. Patrick two for 34. L. Denia five for 59 >.