Hastings Livens Poor Batting

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30681, 22 February 1965, Page 7

Hastings Livens Poor Batting

Only a fine Innings of 63 by B F. Hastings saved the match between West-Uni-versity and St. Albans from complete batting ignominy. The two teams could only manage 264 runs off the bat while 18 wickets fell. St. Albans batted poorly in

its first innings. J. M. Ruston snowed some aggression in his 35, but the rest of the batsmen inexplicably failed to take anv toll of bowling which at its best was only steady. P A. Sharp again took the bowling honours for West, but his figures of five for 52 were distinctly flattering. His bowling was not as good as usual, and possibly he gained some of his successes because of the steadiness of A. C. Timpson at the other end. Timpson bowled his first two overs rather gingerly as if he was wondering whether his muscles were working properly, but after that he settled into a steady length, turning the ball ever so slightly from leg. After 27 overs he had conceded 30 runs and taken two wickets. West-University’s batting was an improvement on St. Albans, but only just. Hastings, driving with assurance and power, took complete charge of the attack <fhd scored 63 in 80 minutes. But the remainder of the batsmen were most unhappy against the off-cutters of P. G. Z. Harris, who took five wickets for 21 runs. Umpires: Messrs L. C. Moore and J. Streeter.