CANTERBURY BEATS CLOCK BY FOUR MINUTES

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30635, 29 December 1964, Page 13

CANTERBURY BEATS CLOCK BY FOUR MINUTES

"The Press” Special Service

DUNEDIN, December 28.

Much stern and stout-hearted resistance from the Otago batsmen, and several catching errors by Canterbury', combined to provide an unexpectedly exciting finish to the Plunket Shield cricket match at Carisbrook today.

Canterbury, set to make 75 runs in 77 minutes, lost four wickets, and had only four minutes to spare at the end.

Otago could not match Canterbury’s attacking batting, fine ground fielding and throwing, and at no stage was there much evidence that Otago’s attitude and intention was other than negative. Canterbury played positive cricket; it would have been a major travesty of justice had it not secured maximum points.

L. R. Pearson was bowled' by B. Andrews off the fifth! ball of the opening over, and’ the grim Otago batting struggle was on again. This time, however, there was at least some reason for it all, even if there was much to be said for keeping firmly in view that runs were also vital if Canterbury was to be denied. G. D. Alabaster started as in the first innings, but he was very well caught and bowled by Andrews diving forward, with the score at 31. Then Murdock was dropped by Hartland at slip off Motz, a straightforward catch, and the only real chance he was to offer in over five hours of solidity and determined concentration, on his nineteenth birthday. Turner Confident In partnership with G. M. Turner. Murdock gave another exhibition of fine defence but this time several good drives were shots not on view in his first innings- Turner again appeared all confidence. He seldom penetrated the field, but he gave P. A. Sharp and Canterbury little hope with his quick footwork, and twice he hooked Motz boldly, if a little dangerously. This pair carried on untroubled until the last over before lunch, when Canterbury enjoyed a moment of great good fortune. Both Dowling and the bowler, Sharp, were at pains to remove R. M. Gearry to the square leg fence, but with the impetuosity of youth. Turner accepted the challenge of a

slow, high old fashioned lob and hit it straight back to Sharp. Immediately after lunch Hartland dropped J. C. Alabaster at deep mid on off Sharp, and the Otago captain batted a further 80 minutes before offering K. Thomson at slip two chances in three balls, the second of which was accepted. Murdoch Stumped Murdock was 39 when Otago reached 100 in 270 minutes, but his marathon innings of 315 minutes came to an end just before tea when he went down the wicket to Sharp, and was stumped. A few minutes after tea saw the end, with P. H. Barton badly run out, and finally F. J. Cameron bowled by AndrewsAndrews, who at one stage had figures of 22.4 overs, 11 maidens, five for 27, finished with six for 57, bowling 33 overs, most of them accurate, some quite hostile, and all of great service to his team. Andrews accepted a considerable task well, and deserved his splendid results, but the fates were with him rather than Motz.

Fast And Hostile Motz, before close of play on Saturday and again this morning, was extremely fast and hostile. Used in short sharp spells throughout, Motz lost some pace in the late morning, but he came again at the end, and was decidedly unlucky to finish without reward. In the interests of constant attack, J. W. Kiddey was hardly used, but Sharp completed a remarkable performance with three for 21 off 29 overs: figures of 65, 36, 57, 5 for the match. While catches were dropped that should have been held Canterbury’s fielding and throwing was again usually of a high standard. Brisk Start There seemed no reason why Canterbury should not secure in time the 75 runs needed to win, and Hartland and Dowling with fine running and firm, drives, started briskly. But then after Hartland was caught by Cameron, Dowling hooked one from Cameron from the top edge into his face and had to retire, and then in one over Turner, whose general fielding had been consistently excellent, caught B. G. Hadlee magnificently, and Motz extremely well in the covers, in one over. These set-backs increased

Canterbury’s task to 29 runs in 20 minutes. But 10 off an over from Anderson, including two lusty fours to leg by B. F. Hastings, reduced the task to 19 in 15 minutes and the 15 were needed in 12. Hastings and K. Thomson with frequent singles and an occasional four, put Canterbury ahead of the clock and three runs were wanted in five minutes when Hastings was caught. Thomson cut the next through the slips for four and Canterbury, clearly the better team, had won deservedly and well. OTAGO First Innings .. ». 169 Second Innings K. Ibadulla, c Dowling, b Andrews . 5 R. L. Murdoch, stp Ward, b Sharp .48 S. N. McGregor, c Ward, b Andrews .. . 3 L. R. Pearson, b Andrews 0 G. D. Alabaster, c and b Andrews .12 G. M. Turner, c and b Sharp 13 J. C. Alabaster, c Thomson, b Andrews ..19 P. H. Barton, run out .. 17 R. G. Anderson, b Sharp .. 2 F. J. Cameron, b Andrews 4 B. D. Milburn, not out .. 2 Extras (byes 3, leg-byes 5, no-balls 3) .. 11 Total .. 136 Fall of wickets: One for five, two for nine, three for eleven, four for 31. five for 61, six for 93, seven for 124, eight for 126. nine for 132.

CANTERBURY First Innings .. .. 231 Second Innings I. R. Hartland, c and b Cameron .. 17 G. T. Dowling, retired hurt 16 B. G. Hadlee, c Turner, b Anderson .. 7 R. C. Motz, c Turner, b Anderson .. 4 K. Thomson, not out .. 16 B. F. Hastings, c Pearson, b Anderson .. 14 B. A. Andrews, not out .. 0 Extras (leg-bye 1. no-ball 1) 2 Total (for 4 wickets) 76 Fall of wickets: One for 33. two for 46, three for 46, four for 72.

Bowling 0. M. R. W R. C. Motz .. 29 16 28 0 B. Andrews 34 13 51 6 J. W. Kiddey 7 3 10 0 P. A. Sharp 29 15 21 3 R. W. Gearry 8 6 4 0 B. G. Hadlee 2 1 11 0

Bowling 0. M. R. W. F. Cameron 10.1 2 45 1 R. Anderson 10 3 29 3