Between Overs

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30275, 30 October 1963, Page 15

Between Overs

Since he last played senior in the 1959-60 season, the West Christ-church-University bowler, P. J. Low. has been able to play little cricket. Low had one season of considerable success when his hostile and attacking bowling with the new ball gave ■ many leading batsmen uncomfortable moments. He is now doing a fine job as captain of his club’s second B team, and he is still able to move the ball about at a lively pace. ¥ ¥ ¥ It was a field day for the Gearry family, of Keller street, at Burwood Park on Monday. Roy, toe son, was playing one of his best innings in senior cricket for 32 not out and adding 72 for Lancaster Park’s fifth wicket with A. G. Duckmanton; Mr G. N. Gearry (George, the father, and a former Canterbury representative) was umpiring the same match between Lancaster Park and East Christ-church-Shirley (his own club) in an emergency: while Mrs Gearry was scoring for Lancaster Park, also because of an absentee on Labour Day. * * ¥ The Lancaster Park former Canterbury Plunket Shield captain, R. T. Dowker, played a little gem of an innings of 32 not out against East Christchurch-Shirley on Monday. When Dowker came in. Lancaster Park needed some quick runs in order to declare and he soon began gathering runs with delicate and easy shots that suggested that he was a batsman in the height of his career and not near toe end of it Dowker batted for only half an hour, but never appeared to be scoring quickly, so easily did he stroke toe ball. ¥ ¥ ¥ It is a pity small boys so often have to go home for tea. There was a lesson for them at Hagley Oval when G. T. Dowling batted for West Christchurch - University on Saturday afternoon. When he went in to open the innings, 30 minutes of play remained, and it was vital that his side should not lose a wicket before stumps. So Dowling got in behind the ball with his immaculate defence. But when one was overpitched, he drove it through the covers with tremendous power. This ability to play a watchful innings, to defend correctly, but to use his many fine attacking strokes whenever the opportunity offers has taken Dowling into the top flight of New Zealand cricketers.

The Old Collegians fast bowler, J. H. M. Dawson, has always been a most useful batsman for his club and his attacking methods have provided spectators with considerable entertainment at times On Monday he reached 1000 runs in senior, cricket. ¥ ¥ ¥ The splendid double achieved by W. E. Moneaster for Riccarton, with his brilliant innings at 49 and 50, brought this entertaining player’s senior aggregate to 4000 runs. He has played 102 senior matches since his first appearance in 1951-52. In toe last 10 seasons, Muncaster has failed only once to score 330 runs or more. But he has been more than merely consistent. Muncaster is a firm believer in attack and year after year he delights spectators with his repertoire of bold, aggressive strokes. ¥ ¥ ¥

Recent criticism of the appearance of senior cricket teams could hardly apply to the Riccarton, West ChristchurchUniversity and Old Boys clubs. Last season Old Boys turned out in a new cap which, if of a rather gay design for the conservative spectator, gave the side a commendable look of uniformity. This season Riccarton and West Christchurch - University have also brought out new caps, worn by all members of the team. ¥ ¥ ¥

The need for more umpires has not escaped W. M. Duncan, of toe Old Boys’ senior team. While his side was batting oh Saturday, Duncan came from the first pitch at Hagley Oval and umpired for

two hours in a second » grade game on Hagley 2. ! This is the sort of gesture J which cricketers and ad-{ ministrators appreciate. }

The many Christchurch cricketers who regard the West Indies as the finest of the cricket countries must have been relieved when S. C. Guillen scored 2 not out on Monday afternoon. His previous two innings this season had not produced a run, and the other former West Indies player In the competition, P. B. Wight, had made 0 and 1 in his only appearance so far.

D. L. Gallop’s bag of eight wickets for Sydenham against Riccarton was his best effort in senior cricket. But even more startling, perhaps, was his success three years ago against St. Albans, when his seven wickets cost only 11 runs. ¥ ¥ ¥ In scaring 72 in his first innings A. Dabovlch, of St. Albans, made a fine entrance to local senior cricket. Dabovich last played senior cricket in Adelaide in the 1959-60 season but since then has played in the country districts of South Australia. He found the pleasant surroundings of Elmwood park a welcome contast to the barrenness of the Australian outback.

The former New Zealand representative, M. B. Poore, with his persistent good length off-spinners, bowled 34 economical overs for St. Albans on the second day of the match against Old Collegians. Poore has enjoyed regular success with the ball for some seasons, and his three wickets brought his senior tally to 350. A welcome return to form w’as shown by the West Christchuroh-Univer-sity fast bowler, J. Cahill, in a second grade A match against Christ's College. If he did not quite attain his best speed, Cahill’s control of direction was much improved, and he took six wickets for 40 runs. * ¥ * The young Riccarton offspinner, E. R. Hignett, reached a personal milestone in the match against Sydenham. He took his senior aggregate to 100 wickets. ¥ ¥ * The pitch at Elmwood Park was in fine condition last week-end and the St. Albans team fully appreciated its run-making qualities. It is not generally known that the preparation and maintenance is partly done by members of the Old Collegians’ Club and they must feel particularly pleased with the result of their labours. r se* r **********<*<**»»»*»«»»<a

The cares of office and J the new responsibility of J parenthood may have } affected the early season » form of D. S. Banks, the ; Old Collegians club cap- j tain. In his first four J innings (including two in J friendly fixtures) this sea- ' son, he made four ducks. J In his fifth—for the club’s ; 2nd B team against Syden- j ham on Saturday—he made « 103 not out in good style. J If he maintains this form J Banks should regain his J place in the club's senior } team. } * * *

Notwithstanding fine J performances by J. W. { Grocott and B. G. Adam- « son. East Christchurch- j Shirley came within a « wicket of an outright loss ; to Lancaster Park on Sat- J urday and Monday. Gro- » cott played with a solid- J ness and ease that belied J the fact that this 56 was his J highest score since the sea- } son before last, while ‘ Adamson reached his best ; standard in senior cricket. » In the first innings he < bowled a tidy length and I used variation of flight Ji and pace to good effect, J but in the second innings. J he bowled rather too well ; for the batsmen, beating j them frequently, but ! gaining too much lift to J hit the stumps.