6 p.m. Finish Remains For Suburban Cricket

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30856, 15 September 1965, Page 18

6 p.m. Finish Remains For Suburban Cricket

Attempts to alter the duration of play in several grades failed at the annual general meeting of the Canterbury Suburban Cricket Association last evening. The only alteration made was that of the Mercantile grade, which will now finish at 5.30 p.m., 15 minutes earlier than in previous seasons. Senior A matches will ’ e played from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m., and senior B, junior, and third grade matches will begin at 1.30 p.m and end at 6 p.m. The Addington delegate, Mr N. Trembath, said that his club had lost players because of the 6 p.m. finish. He said that this rule had been responsible for restricting the growth of teams under the association's control

His club did not want to shorten the hours, but it wanted third grade matches to begin and finish 15 mjnutes earlier

Mr I. J. Bettridge said that he did not feel that the earlier start would be very successful, but added that a proviso could be added that if no result could be found the captains could agree to draw stumps at 5.30 p.m. He said that a match was often won on the first innings late in the afternoon, and time was played out pointlessly. Mr Trem bath’s motion was lost.

late in the afternoon, and time was played out pointlessly. Mr Trem bath’s motion was lost. The Riccarton club proposed that senior B and junior matches begin at 1 p.m. instead of 1.30 p.m., and this was lost. The only successful alteration was moved by Mr R. Copp (Com mercial Travellers). He first moved that play in the Mercantile grade begin at 1.15 p.m. and finish at 5.15 p.m., but later amended this to 1.30 p.m. until 5.30 p.m. Two-piece Ball The incoming management committee will ask clubs for their views on whether the two.piece ball should be banned. Mr Copp claimed that the twopiece ball shortened the life of

a cricket bat and that his club had faced considerable expense for replacing bats.

The Christmas break will be from December 18 until January 15: there will be no suburban cricket on the day of the test, but matches would be played on the day of the Fijian match and the Plunket Shield game Suburban competitions will be gin on October 9. Time Limit Imposed Teams batting first in one | day matches, other than MerI canfile grade matches, will be obliged to declare their innings closed al 3.50 p.m. The association adopted this at a special meeting held before the annual general meeting. Should more than 30 minutes be lost through bad weather be tween the start of the matci, and 3 50 p in., the interval of 15 minutes will be deleted and batting time lost will be halved The rule would also apply in two-day matches when the first day was washed, out because of bad weather. In presenting the motion the president (Mr E. H. Courtier) said that it was aimed .at stopping teams from batting for too long, thus giving the fielding side no opportunity of winning.

‘ Members commented on the fact that the first team would - have an extra 25 minutes' batting time. Mr Courtier said l that this was the advantage ■ gained by winning the toss. It I was not the purpose to give even batting time, but to stop i the abuse by teams which - batted for too long. t The rule alteration was car- ■ ried unanimously, and will come into force this season. The points awarded for an 1| outright win were increased from eight to 10. Officers elected were: i Patron, Mr D. N. Stokes: I I president. Mr E. H. Courtier: vice-presidents. Messrs 1. .1. ■ Bettridge. E. Dawkins, H. J. Tolchard: secretary, Mr P Rusli sell: assistant secretary. Mr I. -I Thompson; treasurer, Mr G.

Albertson; register keeper, Mr Thompson; management corn mittee, Messrs J. W. O’Neill, A. J. Cox, R. D. Smith, J. Booth. D. Youl, O. Rhodes, D. Gordon, V. Mallard, A. W. Johns, J. Bean, E. King, J. Richardson, F, Pearce, H. Thompson, K. McLoughlin (Mercantile); auditor, Mr R. L. Evans.