Riccarton’s Win Reversal Of Form

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30593, 9 November 1964, Page 16

Riccarton’s Win Reversal Of Form

As In the first Innings, the top Old Boys' batsmen failed against the sharp thrust Motz and J. W. Kiddey gave the Riccarton attack. But this time, there was no dramatic recovery among the tail-enders. Motz, in a fine long spell of lively, accurate bowling, sliced the top off the innings and Kiddey maintained the pressure. Motz was able to move the ball enough, at pace, to be decidedly awkward, and Kiddey found the edge of the bat more often than his figures might suggest. But Old Boys also contributed to their own failure. The firstinnings lead of 79 suggested a policy of seeking quick runs, but when the wickets fell, illadvised efforts to hit the bowlers off were maintained.

An exception was D. Hill, who batted thoughtfully for his 24. Late in the innings W. R. Bar-

berel showed power and style, but all too briefly. Although Old Boys stumbled and fell for 120, the task of scoring 200 seemed a stiff one for Riccarton, notable in recent years for unstable batting. But the captain, G. R. McAulay—who claimed his one hundredth wicket-keeping victim earlierhelped Barrett add 42 for the second wicket, and then Barrett, with young Thomas, settled down to a heartening, determined partnership which Old Boys could not break. They took care, but were not slow, for both of them were willing, every now and then, to keep the bowlers at arm’s length with some strong and daring strokes. Barrett, with his penchant for playing off the front foot, was able to find occasional gaps, and by tea they had taken the score to 95.

A further period of devoted batting ended Old Boys’ hopes, and the last runs were made 18 minutes from time. The pair scored 100 in even time, 151 altogether, and Thomas also won much admiration for his diligence and skill. The cover drive which took him to 50 was a lovely flowing stroke. These two won the match, because they showed the solidity Riccarton has so often lacked. The Old Boys bowling was uninspired, although W. M. Duncan, in mid-afternoon, had one fine spell in which he contrived to whip life from a pitch which was very much in favour of batsmen.

Umpires: Messrs J. Owens and I. Kennedy.