Minor Associations Win Trial Match

Press, Volume C, Issue 29680, 25 November 1961, Page 5

Minor Associations Win Trial Match

Holding the ascendancy it had gained on the first day, Canterbury Minor Associations coasted home to an easy win by nine wickets, in the trial cricket match

against Canterbury SnbAssociatjons at Hagley Oval. Losing its last three wickets for eigflit runs. Sub-Associa-tions were forced to follow on. and were soon in trouble when G. Coull was caught at short backward square, off the bowling of W. Kennedy.

P. Mullins, however, set out to restore the position, and with some crisp on-side shots, and a lofted off drive, he kept the score moving at a steady rate. His performance was not faultless; he* played across the line on a number of occasions, and was troubled by Millichamp’s inswinger. but it was an innings of merit. He lost his wicket when attempting to hook a long hop from J. Baird, and skied the ball to Taylor, fielding backward of square leg. The Wright brothers fought back doggedly, but both lost their wickets white in the twenties.

There was no excuse for the batting collapse. The pitch was made for run making, and gave the bowlers no assistance. It was largely a matter of not getting to the pitch of the ball, and lack of application. The Minor Associations’ bowlers were aided by some splendid fielding; the only catch grounded was off Mullins at deep mid-off, and this was by no means an easy one. L. Bunt took one of the best catches seen on the Oval this season when he dived to take a lofted cover drive from Booker. The ground fielding was excellent, and was undoubtedly a match winning factor. Of the Minor Association bowlers. R. Milliehamp was the most impressive. He moved the ball both in the air and off the pitch, and was unfortunate to beat the bat on a number of occasions.

His batting was not in the same class. When, requiring seven runs for the win. he opened the batting for Mmor’s. he was sitting on a “pair.” and faced the moment of truth when he was run out without scoring.

Indeed, 25 minutes had passed and 6 2 overs bowled before the seven runs required were precariously added to the score book. G. Beban who had been presenting an impeccable straight bat. stopped the not when he drove Booker beautifully through the covers for four. " Too many batsmen were out of form for the match to be an enjoyable one. One of the disappointing features was the failure of G. G. Coull to score runs Much depended on his batting in this game, and had he made a good score it would undoubtedly have improved his chances for Plunket Shield selection. The scores were:—

SUB-ASSOCIATIONS ( Over-night score 93 for seven wickets.)

P. Blakely, c Tutty, b Millichamp .. .. o B. Cobden, run out .. 2 M. Trebilcock. not out .. 0

Total .. .. 181 Bowling.—R. Millichamp. 17 overs, 6 maidens. 28 runs, 4 wickets; B. Taylor. 14, 4. 31, 2; J. Baird. 6. I. IS, 0; W. Kennedy, 9. 3. 13. 2; G. Beban, 8. 2. 14, 1.

Second Innings G. G. Coull. c Baird, b W. Kennedy .. ..3 I. Sail, b Baird .. ..3 P. Mullins, c Taylor, b Baird 36 T. McGowan, b Milliehamp 12 G. T. Wright, c Beban. b W. Kennedy . - 24 A. Wright, e Milliehamp. b Taylor .. . 25 J. Blakely c Metcalf, b Baird .. ..19 R. Booker, c Bunt, b Taylor 0 P. Blakely, c Beban, b A. .. .. 8

B. Cobden, c Shewan, b A. Kennedy .. .. 16 M. Trebiicdck, not out .. 0 Extras fbyes 8. leg-byes 5 wide 1. no-ball 1) 15 Total .. ..163 Bowling.—R. Millichamp. 11 overs. 4 maidens. 21 runs, 1 wicket: W. A. Kennedy. 10, 3, 27. 2; J. Baird, 9. 1, 22. 3; B. Taylor. 8. 2. 19. 2: G. Beban. 13. 5. 38. 0; J. Metcalf. 3. 2, 9. 0; J. Blair. 3. 2. 4. 0; A. Kennedy. 2. 0. 9. 2: L. Bunt. 1, 0. 1, 0. MINOR ASSOCIATIONS First innings .. .. 258 Second Innings R. Mllichamp. run out .. 0 J. Metcalf, not out .. 5 G. Beban. not out .. 4 Extra (1 bye) .. 1 Total for one wicket .. 10 Bowling—R. Booker. 3.2 overs. 2 maidens 5 runs, 0 wicket: P. Blakely. 3. 1. 4. 0.