TROUBLES IN REPLY

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30682, 23 February 1965, Page 15

TROUBLES IN REPLY

Stevens Offers

Hope

"The Press" Special Service AUCKLAND, Feb. 22.

The Canterbury under 23 team made a bad start in reply to Otago’s first innings score of 220 in the Rothmans tourney, losing four wickets for 54 runs before stumps were drawn.

C. J. Stevens, however, played some beautiful shots in scoring 31 not out and much depends on him and the lower order batsmen tomorrow.

Canterbury made a good start when Otago batted, dismissing the openers cheaply, but an excellent partnership between K. Campbell and Billcliff saw them through a difficult period and thereafter most of the batsmen scored consistently to take Otago to the respectable total of 220 scored in 300 minutes. For Canterbury A. R. and I. D. Hounsell bowled well until the pitch lost its life and the ball lost its shine. J. W. Burtt then began a long accurate spell of 32 overs in which he captured six wickets for 77 runs.

Bowling into a gentle breeze, he kept the ball well up to the batsmen varying his flight and pace so that his figures were well deserved. The Canterbury team fielded well for most of the day but the rough outfield contributed to some expensive misfielding. Otago 220 (K. O. Campbell 41, W. Kitson 40; J. W. Burtt 6/77), Canterbury 4/55 (R. Haley 3/30). Central Districts 294 (H. Sampson 67, J. Herbert 59, D. H, Payton 53; C. Coney 4/89, S. J. Edward 3/66), Wellington.

COSTA RICA beat Trinidad, 4-0, in a World Soccer Cup qualifying match at San Jose on Sunday night. It led 1-0 at halftime.