Between Overs

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29333, 12 October 1960, Page 13

Between Overs

Although he failed to score on Saturday, the return of B. Fankhurst to the Riccarton team will be welcomed. Pankhurst, an attractive righthand opening bailsman, played only five matches last season before leaving for a business trip to Australia but in 1958-59 he showed considerable promise. In that - - season he scored nearly 400 runs, including a fine innings of 113 against West Christchurch-Uni-versity. * East Christchurch— Shirley and Sydenham were without some familiar names on Saturday. Since last season the East Christchurch team has lost M. J. Bear, B. A. Haworth, R. W. Cole, and G. D. Alabaster, four of the very best players in the side. Sydenham’s losses since the start of last season include B. 3. Bayley, D. C. Wilson, A. F. Rapley, R. Kirton, C. R. Nicholson and F. Jones.

At the end of some Old Collegians’ innings, J. H. M. Dawson has sometimes nrovided entertainment with his vigorous hitting, • but over a period of four seasons, his average was a modest 11. On Saturday he >was clearly determined to succeed, and this he did admirably. Dawson’s previous

best score was 25, against Old Boys last season. Against Old Boys again on Saturday, he scored 62.

St. Albans hopes to have S. C. Guillen back in its team for the second round of the senior competition. He was not available on Saturday because he recently underwent a minor operation. ★ Old Boys’ wicket-keeper on Saturday was R. J. B. West, and although he is quite sound in this position, it is a pity that D. Hill has not continued as wicket - keeper. Hill is a fine young batsman, he can bowl some good legbreaks, and he will not let his side down in the field, but he has considerable potential as a ’keeper. No doubt a specialist wicketkeeper will be chosen for the tour of South Africa, but in the light of the experiences of the last tour, a batsman able to keep wickets will also be selected. Hill has sufficient prospects as a batsman to have been a candidate for that place.

If the young Lancaster Park opener, D. E. Woods continues to make runs readily, he will set the Canterbury selectors some problems. Last season G. T. Dowling and B. A. Bolton, with their huge partnership against Northern Districts, seemed at the beginning of a long association, but Woods’s claims can not be ignored. His innings of 60 on Saturday brought his senior aggregate to 1331, although he has played in only 30 senior games. His career average of 34 is among the best of those in the senior grade. Although he stood down on Saturday, it is expected that W. A. Hadlee will play again for Old Boys later this season. It is 28 years since Hadlee first appeared in the Old Boys senior side, but last summer he was, once again, the outstanding batsman. It will be a bitter disappointment to Chris t c h u r c h cricketers when Hadlee retires, arid they will hope the day is still distant, for he is a batsman of rare quality and charm.