Canterbury Well Placed For Outright Win

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30634, 28 December 1964, Page 14

Canterbury Well Placed For Outright Win

(From Our Own Reporter) DUNEDIN, December 27. Holding a lead of 62 runs, and the prized wickets of K. Ibadulla and S. N. McGregor already secured for only 11 runs, in Otago’s second innings, Canterbury has an outright victory in sight at the end of two days’ play at Carisbrook. This seemingly dominating position is thoroughly deserved—the result of positive attacking cricket, in complete contrast to the attitude and efforts of Otago.

Throughout two days of superb cricket weather the sparse Dunedin crowds have waited in vain for any real suggestion of proper purpose, or offensive intent, from the home team.

But after Otago’s Innings had dragged on and on in the morning of Saturday, the match came to life at last when Canterbury batted.

K. Thomson (62) and R. M. Gearry (39) led the way with a partnership of 88 in 77 minutes, scoring briskly and attractively, at twice the pedestrian tempo of Otago. In 115 miserable and valuable minutes Otago had added 30, including quite a number off the edge, and it occupied 395 minutes in all for a total of 169. Firm Resolution In only 45 minutes before lunch Canterbury had scored 42, notwithstanding the early dismissal of G. T. Dowling. This scoring rate was maintained, and minor set-backs after lunch and tea were handled with firm resolution. Dowling looked sound before he touched one from F. J. Cameron to the wicketkeeper, and both B. F. Hastings and I. R. Hartland started briskly and well. But the lunch break saw the downfall of both, and at 80, B. G. Hadlee, who had always seemed composed and positioned with time in hand, committed the same error as Dowling and Hastings in fail-

ling to cover a ball leaving the [bat a little. Notable Return But Thomson batted splendidly in a notable return to the first-class scene. He was probably conscious of being on trial, and apart from a brief lapse in the twenties, he showed admirable concentration and application, while always looking for runs, and he dealt firmly with anything thrown up. In such good form that he placed many shots to leg off his pads, Thomson scored mainly on the on side, and his lofted drives were wellplaced. His judgment of the short single was flawless, a particular feature of a fine innings, which ended only in the interests of his team’s desire for quick scoring. Thomson’s able ally, Gearry. started a little nervously, and his troubles in reaching double figures encouraged J. C. Alabaster to post two very short legs. Great Success But in between being almost caught in close, Gearry twice cut gloriously to the fence and thereafter his debut was a resounding success. Like Thomson, he lofted with power to the gaps and he used his feet to the spinners particularly well. Gearry hit six fours to

Thomson’s four, but the singles and two’s came steadily in a partnership both entertaining and aggressive. With Canterbury’s obvious intention after tea to have Otago batting again before stumps, Otago maintained pace without variation until the declaration, and Alabaster and his brother, G. D. Alabaster, bowled only 15 overs in the innings, the offspinner conceding 25 runs to Thomson and Gearry, from only five overs. Not Troubled Both R. C. Motz and J. W. Kiddey made useful contributions to ensure a reasonable lead, and like most before them were not unduly troubled by the little more than steady Otago attack. Otago also failed to match Canterbury in the field, but the young wicket-keeper, B. D. Milburn, took four catches, and his performance was always neat and efficient.

With Otago to bat for 25 minutes, Dowling attacked with Motz and B. Andrews and both bowled with noticeable pace and hostility. Ibadulla looked anything but happy against Motz before turning Andrews firmly to G. T. Dowling at backward short leg, and it was a just reward for the efficient J. T. Ward when he moved sharply to his right to hold McGregor.