CRICKET EASY WIN FOR OLD COLLEGIANS

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27501, 8 November 1954, Page 14

CRICKET EASY WIN FOR OLD COLLEGIANS

Fine Century To R. T. Dowker

MATCHES IN SECOND ROUND CONCLUDED

Heavy rain that fell during the afternoon ruined any prospect of close finishes in the games played at Hagley Oval when the second series of matches in the Canterbury Cricket Association’s senior championship was concluded on Saturday. Both games Were abandoned before 5 o’clock when there was no prospect of anything but a first innings result, but players and spectators alike could reflect on two exceptionally bright spots in the morning’s cricket Playing for West Christchurch, R, J. Blewden and W. B. Bridgman, by sheer determination and concentration in a last-wicket stand, gave their side a, first innings lead over Riccarton, and the Lancaster Park captain, R. T. Dowker, scored a craftsman’s century against St. Albans. Old Collegians, with a sound display against East Christchurch, were the only side to secure an outright win.' . Results: Lancaster Park 301, beat St Albans 188 and 84 for two wickets, by 125 runs on the first innings. Old Collegians 148 and 153 beat East Christchurch 81 and 139, outright

West Christchurch 187 beat Riccarton 182. and 188 for three wickets, by 5 runs on the first innings. Old Boys 233 for five wickets de--clared and 48 for six wickets beat

Sydenham 222 and 182 for four wickets declared by 11 runs on the first innings. Dowker, a consistent run-getter, scored 104, the only century of the day, but several other batsmen scored well. L. Newman (73), W. McKenzie (54 not out), both of Riccarton, A. T. Burgess (68 not out), N. V. Bennett (60), both of Sydenham, and J. G. Leggat (56), of Old Boys, passed the half-century. With most of the pitches playing easily during the morning and with difficult conditions with the wet ball in the afternoon, bowlers did not meet with any great success, but R. H. Scott, of Riccarton, and I. Sinclair, of East Christchurch, bowled well to take five wickets each. Competition points are: West Christchurch 15, St. Albans 11, Old Collegians 11, Lancaster Park 10, Old Boys 5. Sydenham 1, East Christchurch 0. Points have yet to be allocated to Sydenham and East Christchurch fo? first-round games. t Umpires fix all matches wore black armbands as a tribute to Mr E. G.

a former umpire, who died last week. LANCASTER PARK V. ST. ALBANS If the game held little interest in the afternoon no fault could be found with the morning’s play, when R. T. Dowker. the Lancaster Park captain, batted superbly to score a chanceless century. When Dowker and J. Abrams resumed the Innings, Lancaster Park required 68 runs, with five wickets in hand, for a first innings lead, and they quickly and competently dispelled St. Albans’s hopes of taking quick wickets. On an easy wicket they took complete charge from the first over of the day. Fifty runs were added in 40 minutes with attractive batting by Dowker and the steady defence and occasional aggressive shots of Abrams. Frequent bowling changes were survived while the St. Albans total was passed and the score taken to 196 before Abrams was out after a most promising innings for 35 runs. The partnership had added 94 runs in almost even time with some excellent cricket. The tempo was maintained when Dowker found a worthy partner in F. Dennis, who hit any loose ball hard and cleanly In an innings of 27 runs. Consecutive balls from Mummery were sent for six with beautiful straight hits—before Dennis was well stumped by Le Mesurier, who did even better work in the next over when he stumped Dowker with his ■score at 104. Dowker never fell from his high standard, and at the end of his innings was still scoring freely all round the wicket. He was particularly impressive with well-timed strokes to the off. G. Smart and A. Dennis added to St. Albans's troubles when they scored 41 for the last wicket. Smart hit hard and often for bis 24 not out. and Dennis made a tidy 16 runs before the innings closed after 256 minutes* batting—a bright effort.

The St. Albana bowlers had little in their favour on a rather easy wicket, and they were further handicapped by the light rain that fell at midday. All were fairly expensive, but M. B. Poore and T. B. Burtt did their share in taking three wickets each.

St. Albans made little effort to force an outright decision when it batted again shortly after 2 o’clock, and a stalemate

was reached as steady rain set in. I. H. Burrows, who scored 32, and L. Mummery, who mad© 35 net out, had little more than batting practice before the match was abandoned shortly before 5 o’clock, with the score at 84 for one wicket.

The umpires were Messrs B. Vine and E. Milne. Scores:— ST. ALBANS First innings .. .. .. .. 186 Second Innings I. H. Burrows, b F. Dennis .. ..32 L. Mummery, not out .. *.35 N. Penlington. not out *. ..13 Extras (byes 4) .. ..4 Total for'one wicket .. ..84 Bowling: K. J. McNicholl. 6 overs, 1 maiden, 23 runs; M. E. Chapple, 5,2, 4, 0; A. G. Duckmanton, 11, 5, 10, 0; G. Smart, 5,0, 13, 0; F. Dennis, 10, 1, 24, 1; R. T. Dowker, 4,1, 6, 0. LANCASTER PARK First innings (119/5) R. T. Dowker, st Le Mesurier, b Poore 104 J. Abrams, c Burrows, b Burtt .. 35 F. Dennis, st Le Mesurier, b Stark 27 G. Smart, not out .. .. .. 24 K. J. McNicholl, lbw, b Stark .. 0 A. Dennis, c Bell, b Poore .. .. 16 Extras (byes 7, leg-byes 4) ..11 Total .. .. ..301 Bowling: M. P. O'Malley, 15 overs, 2 maidens, 45 runs, 0 wicket; J. Kiddey. ,8. 1, 25, 0; W. Bell, 11, 3, 44, 1; M. B. Poore, 20.4, 7, 59, 3; T. B. Burtt, 17, 4, 57, 3; D. Stark, 7,0, 32, 2; L. Mummery, 5,0, WEST CHRISTCHURCH v. RICCARTON

There was excitement enough for a modern radio serial in West Christchurch's successful effort in overtaking Riccarton’s first innings total after losing several cheap wickets at the start of play, but after Riccarton had made a valiant effort to score runs quickly in an attempt to secure an outright win, rain fell steadily, and R. H. Scott, the captain, wisely withheld the declaration. Instead of a tight fi P* sh , the game finished dully before 5 o’clock.

With five of its best batsmen dismissed on the previous day and still 87 runs behind Riccarton’s first innings total, West Christchurch faced a Stem task when G. N. Gearry and G. McCree resumed the innings. Only 10 runs had been added before McCree and Duncan were out and the side was in a seemingly hopeless posnion. Gearry, however, hit the ball confidently and several times scored with powerful hook shots. Hayes took his wicket when he had scored 28. With the dismissal of C. Carston a few runs later 52 runs were still required. with one wicket in hand, and the innings appeared to be all but over. R. J. Blewden and W. B. Bridgman, however, were unperturbed by the occasion or by the early chance each gave early in his innings. The accurate and good-length bowling of Ha y e s, and was played confidently, and without undue haste the score mounted steadily. Bridgman played with rocklike defence, and Blewden took runs where they were offered—and sometimes where they were not. Showing little of the nervous tension that beset their team mates they continued with cool, correct cricket. With the goal in sight Blewden made a dazzling square cut for four off Ackland, a shot he repeated a little later with equal ferocity to give his side a first-innings lead. With a lead of five runs Bridgman was caught behind the wickets after scoring 13 runs in an invaluable innings. Blewden was then 42 an effort of outstanding merit. Scott, in taking five wickets for 66 runs, bowled with vim and accuracy, but he was not fully supported by the field. Hayes also suffered from some poor catching, and deserved more than two wickets. Riccarton’s second innings was notable for the return to form of L. Newman, who scored a good 73 runs, .and the second consecutive half-century of W. McKenzie, who made 54 not out. Newman went for the runs from the start with some good strokes, and scored 42 of the first 50 runs. McKenzie assisted him to put on 68 runs in an hour, with some restrained batting.

but at times he hit the loose ball with great force. At- the end of the game R. Duncan had scored a neat 25 not out, when the total was 168 for two wickets. The umpires were Messrs A. L. Winter and W. Barnes. Scores:—

_. . a , RICCARTON First innings .. .. ..182 ' Second Innings F. F. Dawson, b Blewden .. .. 7 L. Newman c Williams, b Gearry .. 73 W. McKenzie, not out r .. ..54 T. Smitheram, run out .. .. 7 R. Duncan, not out .. .. ..2 Extras, (byes 2) .. ..2 Total for three wickets .. 168 Bowling: W. M. Duncan, 5 overs, 0 maidens. 24 runs, 0 wickets; G. N. Gearry, 8,2, 30, 1; C. Carston, 15, 3, 47, 0; R. J. Blewden, 3,1, 22, 1; G. McCree, 15, 6, 43, 0. WEST CHRISTCHURCH _ First Innings (96/5) G. N. Gearry, c Ackland, b Hayes .. 28 G. McCree, c Fuller, b Scott .. 16 W. M. Duncan, run out .. ..2 R. J. Blewden, not out .. 42 C. Carston, c Smitheram, b Scott .. 5 W. B. Bridgman, c Fuller, b Scott .. 13 Extras (byes 16, leg byes 2, no balls 6) .. .. ..24 Total .. .. ..187 Bowling: J. A. Hayes, 25 overs, 3 maidens, 74 runs, 2 wickets; R. H. Scott, 28, 5. 66, 5; J. Ackland, 7,2, 15, 1: B. Percival. 5,3, 8,1; F. F. Dawson, 1,1, 0, 0. OLD COLLEGIANS v. EAST CHRISTCHURCH Two tail-enders, M. Flint and H. Mather, prevented a major batting collapse in East Christchurch's second innings, but although their partnership added 58 runs to the score ft was not enough to vert an Outright defeat. Old Collegians in their second innings made 153, leaving .East Christchurch 221 to make. East Christchurch scored 139 in the second innings. The second day’s play was notable for bowling rather than for batting. In Old Collegians’ second innings, I. Sinclair, getting considerable turn off a wicket that was playing very true, took five wickets for 44, and N. L. Macbeth and A. R. MacGibbon, for Old Collegians, each took four wickets.

Old Collegians’ previous week’s score of two for 45 was fairly slowly increased to 153 before the side was all out. P. C. C. Sheppard, who had 13 on the board when play closed the previous week, could not Increase this score in the 11 minutes he remained at the wicket, and the other not-out matsman, F. J. Shaw, added 11 to his score. The ball that took his wicket he did not attempt to play. Pitched up well and on the off stump it broke back very sharply to rap him on the pads. He was out lbw. A very similar ball took G. D. Gardiner’s wicket. « I ?S Gi £ >bo ’?: wa sted little time in attacking the bowling. The first ball he received from R Taplin went through extra covers to the boundary and the second £ a s U vF aS -. Bimil * rl / treated. Using his height and reach to advantage Mac Gibbon was getting on to the ball and placing shots all round the wicket. At 19, however. he stepped out a little too far and Sincf i a yorker out o£ a nice ball from

u £ c - Saunders and Macbeth added 26 before the partnership was broken. Saunders was not very happy with the bowling of Sinclair and Taplin at first, but l ate .L u^L e d bls feet. His score rose rapidlv to 20, but he then played across a ball from Taplin and was bowled. Except when he was dropped at point. Macbeth was safety personified. He took the initiative away from the bowlers, and with some nice shots—especially some lovely late cuts backwards of point—rattled his score along to 25. East Christchurch started badly until fc Pl? nvlll s came to the wicket.' Before that time, five wickets had fallen for only sl_$ 1 _L uns - While he was at the wicket a further wicket fell for another nine runs. It was Glenville and S. M. Bettv and later Flint, who lifted East Christchurch out of the rut. Glanvllle hit everything loose, and took his score to e - When MacGlbbon came on he was in difficulties with rising balls. He attempted to sweep one to leg, but could not get under it properly and skied It to Moffat at square leg.

.With Glanville’s dismissal at 77, East chrjstchurch again appeared at the point of collapse. Then Fliht turned the tables. During his stay at the wicket—37 minutes h ? d the Adders scurrying round without cease in the outfield. In this time he scored 42. and included in this total were eight fours.' The bowling of Gardiner suffered considerably: in one over Flint hit four fours. When he left the wicket, at 135, the innings was virtually over and only four more runs—from byes—were added to the score. Scores:—

OLD COLLEGIANS First Innings .. .. .. ..148 Second Innings (45/2) F. J. Shaw, lbw, b Sinclair .. ..30 P. C. C. Sheppard, c Mather, b Betty 13 G. D. Gardiner, lbw, b Sinclair .. 13 A. R. Mac Gibbon, b Sinclair .. 19 J. C. Saunders, b Taplin .. ..20 N. L. Macbeth, c. Mather, b Betty .. 25 A. Hutchison, lbw, b Sinclair .. 5 R. T. Brebner, c McAllister, b Sinclair .. .. .. .. 0 P. Imrie, not out .. 3 Extras (byes 8, 5 leg-byes) .. 13 Total .. g. .. ..153 Bowling: S. M. Betty, 13.3 overs, 6 maidens. 28 runs, 2 wickets; D. McAllister, 8 4, 11, 2; M. K. Lohrey, 8,3, 18. 0; I. Sinclair, 18, 4, 44, 5; R. Taplin, 14, 4, 39, 1. EAST CHRISTCHURCH First innings .. .. ..81 , Second Innings M. K. Lohrey, b Macbeth .. ..18 R. Taplin, b Mac Gibbon . .. 0 B. A. Haworth, c Sheppard, b' MacGibbon .. .. .. .. 0 R. McAllister, c and b Macbeth .. 3 G. Hazeldine, lbw, b Macbeth .. 3 I. Sinclair, b Macbeth .. .. 12 L. Glanville, c Moffat, b Mac Gibbon 25 H. Mather, b Mac Gibbon .. ..14 M. Flint, b Brebner .. ..42 N. Orr, not out .. .. .. 0 5. M. Betty, b Gardiner .. ..7 Extras (8 byes, 7 leg-byes) .. 15

Total .. .. .. ..139 Bowling: A. R. Mac Gibbon, 13.4 overs, 2 maidens, 48 runs, 4 wickets; N. L. Macbeth, 10, 4, 20, 4; R. T. Brebner, 6,1, 28, 1; G. D. Gardiner, 3,0, 28, 1.

OLD BOYS v. SYDENHAM Fast and high scoring was a feature of the second day’s play in the match between High School Old Boys and Sydenham. Old Boys, batting against time—they required 172 for an outright win in 50 minutes—attempted to score the necessary runs, but wickets fell fast, and at 5.50 p.m., when an appeal against the light was upheld, six wickets had fallen for 46 runs. Old Boys won on the first innings. Resuming their innings on Saturday, J. G. Leggat and C. G. Snook added 71 for the fourth wicket before Leggat was caught off a ball which rose sharply. His score of 56 included many useful shots, one a glorious cover drive to the boundary. C. G. Snook, after making 23, was caught when he tried to hook a short ball from B. Richards. W. A. Hadlee and I. A. Baxter then rattled the score along to the final figure of 233, when Hadlee declared with the loss of five wickets. „ P- c - Wilson lost his wicket early in Sydenham's second innings when he was caught behind off Kent. N. Falloon,* batting easily, began hitting hard all around the wicket and up to the time he was caught by Leggat at 26, he had hit four fours. When D. O’Malley was out for five, it appeared that Sydenham was .beginning to collapse, three wickets being down for 52. but a solid fourth-wicket partnership developed between A. T. Burgess and N. V. Bennett. Sydenham’s 100 came up in 106 minutes, and the next 50 in 56 minutes. Bennett, batting well, scored heavily off loose balls, and his total of 60 included seven fours. Burgess started more quietly and had hit only one four in hig first 40. After that time, however, he opened up and scored another five fours before the innings was closed. Old Boys, starting their second innings at 5.10 p.m., tried to get the runs, but wickets fell fast. When ft appeared impossible for an outright win to be gained, the batting tempo slowed. Scores : OLD BOYS First Innings (110/3) J. G. Leggat, c Richards, b Salt .. 56 C. G. Snook, c Falloon, b Richards .... 23 I. A. Baxter, not out .. .. .. 15 W. A. Hadlee, not out .. ..40 Extras (byes 15, leg byes 4, noballs 3) . ... .. ..22 Total for 5 wickets declared .. 233 Bowling:—D. Humphries. 18. 1, 75, 1; N. V. Bennett, 11, 3, 32, 0; B. Salt, 11. 3, 37, 1; B. Richards, 13, 2, 26, 2; T. Bartholomew, 4,0, 41, 1. Second Innings D. J. Reid, lbw, b Humphries .. 10 F. B. Smith, c McKnight, b Humphries 12 J. G. Leggat, run out. .. ..9 W. A. Hadlee, c Burgess, b Bartholomew .. .. .. g R. Copp, lbw, b Bartholomew .. a

J. F. Kent, std Wilson, b Bartholomew 0 C. G. Snook, not out ..' .. 5 B. A. Bolt, not out .. .. .. 1 Extra (1 leg bye) .. .. 1 Total for six wickets .. 46 Bowling:—Humphries, 2,0, 25, 2; Richards, 5,3, 12, 0; Bartholomew, 4,1, 8, 3. SYDENHAM First innings .. .. . . 222 Second Innings D. C. Wilson, c Copp, b Kent .. 11 N. Falloon, c Leggat, b Bolton .. 26 N. V. Bennett, c Reid, b Kent .. 60 D. O’Malley, c Hadlee, b Kent .. 5 A. T. Burgess, not out .. ..68 B. Salt, not out .. .. .. 0 Extras (11 byes, leg bye -) ..12 Total for four wickets dec. .. 182 Bowling:—D. J. Reid, 16, 3, 46, 0; J. F. Kent, 15, 4, 32, 3: D. C. Currie, 3,0, 20, 0; B. A. Bolton, 10, 2, 23, 1; C. G. Snook, 17, 3. 36, 0; I. A. Baxter, 3,0, 9,0; W. A. Hadlee. 1. 0. 4, 0. W