Between Overs

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29747, 14 February 1962, Page 11

Between Overs

M. J. Bear’s century for Riccarton on Saturday was his first in his three seasons in Christchurch. But he has, for all that, an ex-

cellent record in club games. In his first season, for East Christchurch, he scored 366 runs at an average of 45.7, with three scores in the 60’s. Last summer he twice scored more than 90 for Sydenham, totalling 274 at an average of 54.8. So far this season his tally for Riccarton is 345, at 38.3; Bear thus needs only 25 more runs for his 1000 in senior cricket.

With his 29 runs on Saturday, the consistent Riccarton batsman, G. T. Barrett, became the second senior player this season to reach an aggregate of 500 runs.

R. J. B. West has been easily the most successful wicket-keeper in the senior competition this season, but an injured foot prevented ..him from keeping on Saturday. His replacement, D. Hill, looked very good. When Hill came into senior cricket, he had a fine reputation as a wicket-keeper-batsman, and it is a pity he has not gone on with his wicket-keeping.

The Old Collegians player. G. C. P. Beadel. has taken most catches this season, his tally being

The two innings of 45 and 39 by P. M. Hill for Old Collegians in the match against West Christ-church-University, were easily his best in senior cricket, and it seems now that there is every prospect of this young player justifying the faith that the club's selectors have shown in him in the last season or two. Twice Hill combined with his captain, A. R. Mac Gibbon, to save the situation, and he showed that he has now overcome his weakness of playing across the flight. Hill’s second innings was a particularly delightful exhibition of powerful driving combined with sound defence.

Old Boys batsmen now fill the first four positions in the senior batting averages. The players are B. G. Hadlee (93.4), W. A. Hadlee (87.3), M. L. Ryan (47.7), and D. Hill (47.3). A friendly match at Oamaru on Sunday was notable for a well-known Suburban association batsman, T. Smitheram, scoring eight runs from one hit Smitheram was batting for Sumner against Union (Oamaru). He ran four from a hit, and was then presented with four overthrows.. The unfortunate bowler was G. Cowles. ,

The death occurred in Christchurch last week of a former well-known Riccarton player, P. Rose. A stylish batsman and a useful wicket-keeper, Rose first played in the Ribcarton senior side when it was very strong, in 193536. His only appearances after the war were in two matches in 1949-50. Rose scored 1159 runs in senior! cricket at an average ofj 17, made 27 wicket-keep-ing dismissals, although! he did not keep regularly. He was also a keen member of the Christchurch Rugby Club.

One of the most eager and certainly one of the best young fieldsman in the senior competition is P. G, Coman of East Christchurch - Shirley. Against Sydenham on Saturday, when D. L. Gallop was driving very strongly in front of the wicket. Coman, fielding on the long-on boundary, chased nearly everything, and brought off some splendid saves.