Sydenham In Form: 533 Runs Scored

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30587, 2 November 1964, Page 16

Sydenham In Form: 533 Runs Scored

The strong Sydenham batting aide finally realised its potential when it hammered the Old Collegians bowlers for 390 runs in 255 minutes —almost 100 runs an hour—at Elmwood Park. However, Old Collegians were not to be outdone and in 120 minutes they scored 143 runs to bring the total of runs to 533 in the day's play.

From the point of view of batting it was a magnificent day s cricket but without detracting from some very good batting it cannot be overlooked that some of the bowling was woefully inaccurate and the ground fielding, particularly that of Old Collegians, rather shoddy. Given a solid start by I. R. Hartland and J. C. Tucker, the later Sydenham batsmen took a heavy toll. W. Thomson immediately announced he was in form with some powerful strokes off the back foot and he scored his 123 in the same number of minutes, hitting 18 fours and one six.

He and Hartland scored 139 in 94 minutes but it was Thomson who was the dominant partner. His quick footwork and wide array of strokes left the Old Collegians bowling in tatters.

After his dismissal there was still no respite. R. L. Thomas, a powerful driver, scored 69 in 74 minutes, hitting seven fours and three sixes. D. L. Gallop and K. Thomson also plundered runs freely. It was a fine display of attacking batting by Sydenham. There was no rash hitting but rather steady aggression. The first 50 runs took 54 minutes, but the next five fifties ranged between 26 minutes and 37 minutes. There was little that can be said for the Old Collegian’s bowling. J. H. M. Dawson and

N F. Curtis were made into only steady bowlers by the placid pitch and the spinners, M. G. Lester and N. G. Clarke, did not have the accuracy to contain the quick-footed batsmen. The Old Collegians' innings opened badly when R. C. Bromley was run out off the first ball and wickets fell regularly to the accurate bowling of K. Thomson. But when five were down for 57 A. R. Macgibbon and H. J. Taylor fought back In an attractive partnership of 85 in 64 minutes. Macgibbon took drastic toll of some untidy bowling by Gallop and B. A. Salt, and Taylor batted sensibly and soundly. Much will depend on him next week. The umpires were Messrs F. Goodall and R. V. Taylor.