CRICKET Senior Championship Won By St. Albans

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28235, 25 March 1957, Page 14

CRICKET Senior Championship Won By St. Albans

Victory over Lancaster Park two minutes from time gave St. Albans the senior cricket championship on Saturday. St. Albans now has a lead of 13 points from Old Collegians, with only a round of one-day matches to be played. St. Albans last won the championship in the 1954-55 season, and previously in the 1949-50 season. The St. Albans-Lancaster Park game was a fitting finale to a good competition. Throughout the day the advantage shifted to and fro. but Lancaster Park was finally set a fast-scoring task beyond its capabilities. Although wickets fell fast, the batsmen kept forcing the pace until the last 20 minutes, and the last two pairs could not quite Survive that period of defence. There were not many individual performances of particular note. Four batsmen—J. Smith. I. B. Cromb, G. N. Gearry, and C. G. Snook—scored half-centuries, J. Kiddey took six wickets, and four bowlers each took five. They were D. Stark. D. L. Gallop, B. A. Carpenter, and J. B. Park. Results:— St. Albans 175 and 171 beat Lancaster Park 165 and 124 by 57 runs. Old Collegians 261 and 12 for no wickets beat East Christchurch 125 and 147 by 10 wickets. West Christchurch 189 and 71 for four wickets beat Riccarton 131 and 127 by six wickets. Old Boys 169 and 67 for five wickets beat Sydenham 154 and 210 for seven wickets declared by 15 runs on the first innings. Competition points are: St. Albans 65, Old Collegians 52, Lancaster Park 47. Old Boys 41, Riccarton 27. East Christchurch 27. West Christchurch 22, Sydenham 19. ST. ALBANS V. LANCASTER PARK (175) (117/5) Lancaster Park was the first to take the initiative, R. T. Dowker and B. Irving hustling the score along very rapidly. At one stage the score was 153 for five, but then the wickets fell in a heap, the situation reducing normally aggressive batsmen to unsuccessful prodders. K. J. McNicholl and M. B. Poore exploited the situation most ably. Lancaster Park finished 10 runs behind, and the first and extremely important target had been for even a first innings win would have kept the competition alive. But Lancaster Park’s mediumCaced bowling was excellent and y lunch St. Albans had lost four wickets for 34. including those of the prolific scorers. P. G. Z. Harris and S- C. Guillen. This left the game wide open, and when the sixth wicket fell at 59 Lancaster Park was very much on top. Then J. Smith and J. Hutchinson pulled the game round with a partnership of 54, the first 50 in 41 minutes. Smith played his best innings for a long time. He resisted the temptation to hit round the corner until the shot was a safe one, and he made some correct and powerful drives on the off side. Hutchinson lent him admirable support. At the most critical stage in midaftemoon the Lancaster Park bowling lost its edge, then accuracy, and the fielding deteriorated. At 3 p.m. St. Albans was 100 ahead, with four wickets in hand, and at that point the wicket-keeper, I. Anderson, who had given an excellent display, missed chances from two successive balls from G. Smart. The partnership was broken at 3.15 p.m. with the score at 116, and D. Stark was dropped close in by J. Saunders off A. G. Duckmanton—another bad mistake. At tea St. Alabns had made 144 for eight wickets, and only the dismissal of the last two in a few minutes would have given Tineas ter Park a chance. But Smith and Stark went quietly on, and the ninth wicket did npt fall until 4.20 pjn., the last at 4.30 p.m. M. E. Chappie set a grand example of accuracy and took four wickets, but Saunders and R. H. Prouting also bowled extremely well in the opening stages. Lancaster Park had 80 minutes to score 182 runs, and it was a pity Chapple did not open himself, for much depended on him. The other batsmen made a great effort, but when Chapple was bowled round his legs the score was 46 for four and the time 5.15 p.m. Still the batsmen went on hitting hard and often, and Duckmanton and Dowker. took 15 from an over by Stark. Duckmanton delighted everyone with his powerful, well-placed lofted drive, and his 41 runs were scored in only 33 minutes. Dowker also went for his shots successfully, and the first hour's batting yielded 114 runs. But by then seven wickets were down, and the eighth fell immediately. The field, from being broadcast about to stop boundaries, crowded in and Prouting, padding up and presenting arms outside his off stump, was bowled behind his back by a Stark googlie, a diverting moment for all but the batsman. Twelve minutes remained when the last man. Anderson, came in, and he startled the close field by swinging Stark away strongly. But from the third ball in what might have been the last over, had runs come from it. Smart turned McNicholl and N. L. Jones, at short backward square leg. held a good catch. The match was remarkable for! the number of no-balls called—32 in [ the first three innings. The umpires were Messrs J. Gover. •nd B. Vine. Scores:— ST. ALBANS First innings ~ 175 . Second Innings S. C. Guillen, b Smart .. ..141 N. Penlington, c Anderson, b Prouting .. .. .. o P. G. Z. Harris, lbw, b Saunders 0 M. B. Poore, c and b Chapple 17 G. Legg at. lbw, b Saunders .. 4 J. Smith, not out .. 68 T. B. Burtt, lbw, b Chapple 2 J. Hutchinson, c Prouting, b Chapple .. .. ..23 K. J. McNicholl. c Dowker, b Duckmanton .. .. 10 D. Stark, b Smart .. ..14 N. L. Jones, lbw, b Chapple 3 Extras (byes 7, leg-byes 4, no-balls 5) .. ..16; Total .. i7i ■ Bowling.—R. H. Prouting. 12 overs. 6 maidens. 23 runs. 1 wicket: J. Saunders. 9. 4. 23. 2; A. G. Duckmanton. 14. 6. 28. 1: G. Smart, 16, 3. 31, 2; M. E. Chapple. 21.1. 11. 28. 4; B. Irving. 5, 3. 12. 0: W. H. Walters. I 2.0, 10. 0. LANCASTER PARK First innings (117/5) R. T. Dowker, c Guillen, b McNicholl .. 22 B. Irving, c and b Poore I* 16 I. Anderson, b Poore .. 4 J. Saunders, lbw. b Poore .. 3 R. Prouting. c McNicholl .. 1 ( G. Smart, not out ». q . Extras (bye 1, leg-byes 1, nol balls 12) .. ..14 Total .. .. 155 Bowling.—K. J. McNicholl. 20 overs. 1 5 maidens. 54 runs. 4 wickets; P. G 1 Z. Harris. 9. 1. 10. 1; T. B. Burtt. ■ 18. 43, 1; M. B. Poore,. 20.1. 7. Second Innincs W. H. Walters, b McNicholl .. 2 G. E. Royfee, c Hutchinson, b Harris .. 4 J- Saunders, b Stark ’ Z 15 , A. G. Duckmanton. b Poore .. 41 M. E. Chapple, b Stark 3 R- T. Dowker, st Guillen. b Stark . J. Abrams, b Stark L 14 5- If . b Poore .. .. 51 «- H- Prouting. b Stark .. 0,

; IG. Smart, c Jones, b McNicholl 3 I. P. Anderson, not out .. 7 j Extras (leg-byes 2) ..2 5 Total .. .. ..124 i Bowling.—K. J. McNicholl, 7.3 [ overs,, 3 maidens, 27 runs, 1 wicket; P. G. Z. Harris, 3. 0, 12. 1; D. Stark, ; 10, 2, 59, 5; M. B. Poore, 6,1, 24, 2. 1 EAST CHRISTCHURCH (38/5) V. OLD COLLEGIANS (261) Continuing East Christchurch’s first 1 innings, I. B. Cromb and W. Black , batted doggedly to take the score : from 38 to 84 before Black was • brilliantly caught close in by D. W. ’ Crowe. The later batsmen fell to ; the slow bowlers, and the side was ■ out for 125, 37 runs short of avoid--1 ing the follow-on. ’ Cromb was undefeated for 61. He I batted soundly throughout, and was » quick to punish any loose balls. The slower bowlers, B. A. Carpenter and • Crowe, worried the rest of the bats--1 men into throwing away their . wickets. East Christchurch began briskly in its seconds innings, with J. D. Cap- ' stick and B. A. Haworth bringing up • the first 50 in 48 minutes. Both fell • to good catches close to the wicket - off one over from T. D. Gibson, and from that point East Christchurch ■ was struggling again. Cromb was bowled around his legs in the next over. Some of the later batsmen hit hard to good effect, but the end ! was inevitable. Carpenter worried all the batsmen with his accuracy, and thoroughly deserved his good figures of five for 58. Gibson took three of the most valuable wickets, and J. D. Thompson again showed promise. Thompson made an excellent return to the wicket from the deep to run out Sinclair. Old Collegians were left to score 12 for the outright victory, and the game ended at 4.24 p.m. with Old Collegians winning by 10 wickets. The umpires were Messrs R. Liddicoat and L. Johnston. Scores were:— EAST CHRISTCHURCH First limings (38/5) W. Black, c Crowe b Carpenter 19 R. Parnell, b Carpenter .. 1 S. M. Betty, c Thompson b Crowe 11 T. Jones, c Hunt, b Crowe .. 0 N. Beaton, c Perry, b Mac Gibbon 2 ’ I. B. Cromb, not out .. 61 Extras (wides 2, byes 2, legi byes 2, no-balls 1) .. 7 125 Bowling.—A. R. Mac Gibbon. 21.5 L overs, 11 maidens, 29 runs, 3 wickets; T. D. Gibson, 7,6, 5. 0; B. A. Car- > penter. 20, 6, 38, 3; J. D. Thompson, ■ 8. 0, 19, 1; D. W. Crowe, 12, 2. 27, ‘ 2. . Second Innings . B. A. Haworth, c Mac Gibbon, b i Gibson .. .. 15 . J. D. Capstick, c Carpenter, b Gibson 35 ‘ I. B. Cromb, b Carpenter .. 5 G. D. Alabaster, c Sheppard, b Gibson 11 • K. Auld, b Carpenter 0 ’ W. Black, c Thompson, b Car- [ penter 7 : S. M. Betty, b Thompson .. 23 I. M. Sinclair, not out .. ~ 2 • R. Parnell, b Carpenter .. 16 I T. Jones, c Thompson, b Carpenter 17 • N. Beaton, not out 1 Extras (byes 13, leg-byes 2) 15 i Total .. 147 ; Bowling.—A. R. Mac Gibbon, 5,1, 19. 0; T. D. Gibson. 10. 2. 26. 3; B. A. i Carpenter, 15.3, 1, 58, 5; J. D. Thomp- . son, 5, 1. 17, 1; G. L. Perry, 4,1, . 12, 0. OLD COLLEGIANS First Innings (261) ; Second Innings . O. A. Hutchinson, not out .. 8 [ J. D. Thompson, not out .. 4 1 Total for no wicket .. 12 Bowling.—W. Black. 1. 0,8, 0; N. • Beaton, 1. 0. 4. 0. i WEST CHRISTCHURCH (96/7) V. RICCARTON (131) Through a great last-wicket part- ’ nership of more than 50 runs. West Christchurch finished with a first ; innings lead of 58 over Riccarton. a lead that enabled it to gain an outright win. G. N. Gearry played a fine innings for 80 not out, mixing aggression and caution in perfect quantities to produce one of his best innings for a long time. He hit five fours and two sixes. J. W. Kiddey was Riccarton’s best bowler, taking six wickets for 68 runs, an analysis that made even better reading before West’s last wicket stand. With the exception of W. E. Muncaster and R. H. Scott, Riccarton’s second innings was a poor effort. Only Muncaster and Scott attempted to hit the ball hard, and they got runs. J. B. Park, who was able to get considerable turn from the wicket, took five for 39. W. Bell took all of West’s four wickets in its second innings for the cost of 4 6runs. West secured the required 70 runs to win by six wickets with 20 minutes to spare. The umpires were Messrs J. Owens and H. C. Moore. Scores: WEST CHRISTCHURCH First Innings (96/7) G. N. Gearry, not out .. 80 M. Stewart, c Muncaster, b Kiddey ..12 D. Giblin, c Motz. b Scott .. 10 A. C. Timpson, b Motz .. 30 Extras (byes 2. leg-byes 2, wide 1, no-ball 1) .. 6 Total .. ..189 Bowling: J. W. Kiddey. 32 overs, 8 maidens. 68 runs, 6 wickets; W. Bell. 16. 1, 58. 2; R. Motz, 2.4, 0. 12, 1; J. B. Percival, 9,2, 16, 0; R. H. Scott 10, 3, 29. 1. Second Innings B. Sullivan, stpd. Fuller, b Bell 22 J. B. Park, c Percival, b Bell 9 G. T. Dowling, not out .. 17 D. Buckingham, b Bell .. 1 G. N. Gearry. c Fuller, b Bell 11 L. Scott, not out .. .. 6 Extras (leg-byes 2, no-balls 3) 5 Total for four wickets .. 71 Bowling: J. W. Kiddey. 18, 8, 20, 0; W. Bell. 17.2, 4. 46, 4. RICCARTON First Innings 131 Second Innings W. E. Muncaster, b Park .. 25 G. R. McAulay. b Stewart .. 0 G. W. McKenzie, b Stewart .. 8 B. M. Pankhurst. c Giblin, b Haskell .. ..0 R. Motz. b Haskell .. ..10 J. X- Kiddey. b Park ... 2 R. H. Scott, b Timpson .. 26 W. Bell, b Park .. ..8 E. P. Fuller, b Park ..2 F. F. Dawson, not out .. .. 14 ; J- B. Percival, c Timpson, b Park .. .. .. 13 ' Extras (byes 17, no-balls 2) 19 Total .. .. .. 127 Bowling: W. J. Haskell, 14, 3, 34. 2: M. Stewart. 10, 4, 19, 2; J. B. Park. 12. 1, 39 5; A. C. Timpson, 10. 3. 16. 1. OLD BOYS (119/7) V. SYDENHAM (154) s A late declaration by Sydenham 1 prevented any chance of a close finish to its match with Old Boys. Left with only 75 minutes in which to , make 196 runs for an outright victory. Old Boys batted out time quietly to win on the first innings. Old Boys continued their first innings and mainly because of C. G. Snook, who made 61. achieved a 15run lead over Sydenham. D. L. Gallop, with a mixture of good and 1 indifferent bowling, took five wickets for 74. Batting again Sydenham had 41 on at lunch for two wickets. Old Boys failed to get one or two wickets im- ( mediately after lunch—they were ■ badly needed at this stage—and Svdenham gradually gained the initia- j tive. B. Bayley again driving power- • fully to score 49. He was given j * out at 21. but was recalled from the < pavilion by one of the umpires to continue his innings. When he gained the wicket of R. F Rice. D. J. Reid took his total . of wickets for the season to 50. ! The umpires were Messrs P. Kerr and T. Mathie. ; ; Scores: — , OLD BOYS First Innings (110/7) C. G. Snook, c Salt, b Gallop .. 61 1 I A. E. L. Britton, b Gallop I 1

i D. J. Reid, run out .. .. 6 • G. J. Franks, not out .. 2 • Extras (byes 12, no-balls 1) .. 13 I t Total .. .. ..169 1 Bowling: J. Harliwich, 24 overs, 8 i maidens, 46 runs, 3 wickets; M. Mc- ; Ewan, 2,0, 9. 0; D. L. Gallop, 24.5. : 4, 74, 5; B. Salt, 3,0, 7,0; A. T. : Burgess. 10. 3, 20, 1; G. Fraser, 1,1, I 0. 0. Second Innings i J. W. D’Arcy, c Burgess, b Gallop 26 B. A. Bolton, st Kirton, b Harliwich .. .. 9 ■ B. M. J. Dineen, st Kirton, b WilR. J. B. West, b Bayley" ." 11 :J. G. Leggat, st Kirton, b Wilson 7 - D. J. Reid, not out .. 0 Extras (byes 2, leg-byes 4, noballs 2) .. ..8 I Total for five wickets .. 67 Bowling: M. McEwan, 5 overs, 0 • maidens. 18 runs, 0 wickets; J. Harliwich. 8. 5, 12, 1; D. L. Gallop, 4. 0, 15, 1; B. Bayley, 2,0, 11, 1; D. C. Wilson, 1.1, 0,3, 2. SYDENHAM First Innings 154 Second Innings I B. Salt, c Britton, b Reid .. 9 1 D. L. Gallop, c West b Franks .. 8 . B. Bayley, c Franks, b Snook .. 49 F. Price, hit wkt. b Reid .. 10 ' J. Reece, b Dineen .. ..27 ■G. Fraser, b Dineen .. ~ 8 • A. T. Burgess, b Reid .. ..21 i D. C. Wilson, not out .. ..43 , R. Kirton, not out .. .. 3 Extras (byes 25, no-balls 7) 32 Total for seven wkts. dec. 210 Bowling: D. J. Reid. 21 overs, 9 maidens, 38 runs. 3 wickets: G. J. Franks. 14, 2. 57, 1; B. A. Bolton, 7, i 0, 23. 0; B. M. J. Dineen. 6,1, 30, 2; C. G. Snook, 4,0, 13, 1; R. J. B. > West. 2,0, 17, 0.