“FASTEST SCORERS IN WORLD”

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28461, 16 December 1957, Page 15

“FASTEST SCORERS IN WORLD”

Tribute To Fijians In London

(N.Z Press Association—Copyright ■ (Rec. 7 pm.) LONDON, Dec 13 Fijian cricketers. indigenous Fijians, that is. are undoubtedly the fastest scorers in the world, says the ‘‘Daily Mail’s’ sporting writer, welcoming a possible visit by Fijians to Britain next year.

Fijians rank as first-class cricketers by virtue of their matches against first-class New. Zealand provinces on the 1948 and 1954 tours, says the writer.

The Fijians, he recalls, did well against Wellington, Auckland and Canterbury, which were' .fieldinc such distinguished test players as Sutcliffe, Hadlee, and Wallace, and hammered unmercifully the slow’ left-arm bowler, Tom Burtt, who reduced many English batsmen to immobility in 1949. The indigenous Fijian players reduce cricket to its basic virtues, he says. Most of them are fast bowlers who aim all the time at the middle stump They are superb close fielders, capable of catching anything. In the deep, because of their tremendous throwing, they are some of the most spectacular performers’ known. English wickets may fox them considerably. but Ilekena Bula scored 1000 runs in 17 innings in New Zealand—at the average rate of something over two runs a minute.

SENIOR GAMES AT WELLINGTON

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, December 15. T. S. Malloch, of Kilbirnie, with eight wickets for 39 and two for seven against tae championship leaders Karori, was the outstanding performer in Wellington senior cricket yesterday. .The pitches were soft and several bowlers made the ball lift sharply. Scores:— Karori 121 (J. E. F. Beck 32; Malloch eight for 39) met Kilbirnie 84 (B. Malden four for 23). We' ..igton College Old Boys 120 for four (D. J. Vear 48 not out) met St Pat's Old Boys 115 (H. Morgan 30, S Zavos 30, F. L. H. Mooney 24). Onslow 193 (E. Stratford 60, W. R. Heatherwick 55; W. J. Haskell five for 43) met Varsity 41 for seven (B. A. Prince three for 16, D. Williams three for 25). Wellington 168 (T. G. McMahon 33; E. J. Sigley five for 68) met Midland 104 for four (E. W. Dempster 24 not out). T. Meale, the opening batsman who has been dropped from the Wellington Plunket Shield side, made 130 for Hutt against Talta in the Hutt Valley cricket championship today.

COMPETITION AT DUNEDIN

F. J. Cameron Takes Seven For 30 (New Zealand Press Association) DUNEDIN, December 15. The main feature of the- opening day of the fifth series of cricket matches in Dunedin yesterday was the bowling of fast-medium F. J. Cameron for Dunedin against North East Valley Cameron. who attended W. M. Wallace's coaching school at Auckland, heralded his return to club cricket with seven wickets for 30 runs off 21 overs. The stumps scores in all four matches of the series were:— High School Old Boys 303 for eight wickets declared (G. H. Mills 74, M McEwan 57 not out. A. McMurran 56). University four wickets for 48 runs (V. A. C. McArley three for 12) Albion-Y.C.C.A. 207 (B. Collie 52: A. McK. Moir four for 45. W. S. Haig four for 24). Grange 222 (Moir 50. W J. Samson 50) North East Valley 103 (F. J. Cam-, eron seven for 30). Dunedin 155 for six wickets (I. McPhee 48). Carisbrook 175 (G. A. Isaacs 66, W. Bridgman five for 38) and 14 for no wicktets, Kaikorai 130.