Aucklanders On Top In Game At Hamilton

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29401, 31 December 1960, Page 11

Aucklanders On Top In Game At Hamilton

(New Zealand Press Association)

HAMILTON, December 30. Auckland’s first innings of 263, which gave it a lead of 39 over Northern Districts on the second day of a Plunket Shield cricket match at Seddon Park, Hamilton, today, was dominated by two batsmen, J. T. Sparling (102) and S. G. Gedye (62). In its second innings Northern Districts collapsed and were 36 for four at close of play. The value of the batting of Sparling and Gedye was sharply underlined by the failure of the middle Auckland batsmen to capitalise on the good foundation which had been laid.

The lead would have been negligible if it had not been for a last wicket partnership of 28 by the captain, L. A. Clark, and R. S. Cunis, who made such an impressive debut as a medium-fast bowler yesterday. Two wickets were down for 121 when the partnership of 106 of Gedye and Sparling was broken, and only three wickets were down as the score passed 190 and moved toward 200 simultaneously with Sparling’s passage through the nineties. A total of 350 or 400 seemed more than just a slight possibility but wickets tumbled* and when Cunis joined Clark the score was 235 for nine.

Sparling, who scored a century against Canterbury at Christchurch about this time last season, batted soundly and rarely seemed likely to make a mistake. He was at the wicket for 231 minutes and hit six 4s. He wended a cautious way through the nineties and his last 12 runs were all singles. Gedye was watchful throughout his 62 in 180 minutes and never seemed likely to take the bowling apart. The man who wrecked the middle part of Auckland’s innings was the off-spinner, N. Puna, who showed -admirable control of length and flight. It was not a responsive pitch but Puna was able again to prove himself an off-spinner of first-rate ability. His first spell of bowling in the morning did not produce a wicket, but his figures, 13 runs from 12 overs, six of which were maidens, proved the respect he commanded from the batsmen.

The other bowlers performed steadily. The attack was weakened when the left-arm spinner, A. F. Lissette, pulled a leg muscle and left the field. He returned for a short time, found his leg troublesome and did not take any further part in the innings. Losing four -vickets, including that of B. H. Pairaudeau, Northern Districts was soon in an unhappy position in its second innings. W. P. Bradburn played on a ball from Clark, D. L. Donald went in the same manner as the first innings—catight by the wicketkeeper, E. R. Tovey, off Cunis—Pairaudeau gave a catch straight to K. R. Deas at gully from a ball from Clark which got up and G. D. Alabaster was

brilliantly caught low down by W. B. Norman at second slip off Clark. Scores:— NORTHERN DISTRICTS First innings .. ..224 Second Innings D .L. Donald, c Tovey, b Cunis 6 W. P. Bradburn, b Clark , ..12 R. J. McPherson, not out .. 6 B. H. Pairaudeau, c Deas, b Clark .. .. .. 5 G. D. Alabaster, c Norman, b Clark .. 2 E. C. Petrie, not out .. .. 4 Extra (leg-bye 1) .. 1 Total for four wickets .. 36 Fall of wickets: one for 18, two for 18, three for 25. four for 27.

AUCKLAND First Innings S. G. Gedye, lbw, b Wilson .. 62 E. D. Giles, b Hoskin .. .., 7 J. T. Sparling, c Donald, b Puna .. .. .. 102 K. R. Deas, run out .. 8 R. W. Morgan, b Puna .. ..17 P. B. McGregor, c Donald, b Puna .. .. 12 E. R. Tovey, c and b Puna .. 0 J .G. Kemp, c and b Puna .. 17 W. B. Norman, c Petrie, b Alabaster .. 5 L. A. Clark, not out .. .. 16 R. S Cunis, c Petrie, b Langdon 12 Extras .. .. .. 5 Total .. .. ..263 Fall of wickets: one for 15. two for 121, three for 153, four for 198. five for 205, six for 205, seven for 222, eight for 235, nine for 235.

Bowling O. M. R. W. Cunis .. 9 3 13 1 Norman .. 3 1 8 0 Clark .. 11 6 9 3 Sparling .. 5 3 5 0

Bowling O. M. R. W. Hoskin .. 23 10 37 1 Langdon .. 15 J 1 37 1 Wilson 1 .. 20 2 68 1 Lissette .. 2 0 5 0 Puna .. 35 15 54 5 Alabaster .. 33 15 57 1