DOWLING MAINSTAY AGAINST MOTUEKA

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31234, 5 December 1966, Page 19

DOWLING MAINSTAY AGAINST MOTUEKA

(By

R. T. BRITTENDEN)

An innings which began soundly, then faltered a little, but which developed into a most attractive display of strokemaking, brought G. T. Dowling 152 not out and gave Canterbury a score of 307 for five wickets declared on the first day of a twoday game with Motueka at Hagley Oval yesterday.

Dowling, out of touch in the early part of the club season, is clearly recovering his best form, and delighted a crowd of several hundreds with his cultured driving and graceful on-side strokes.

But his team made a very bad start, on a pitch from which the ball sometimes came through reluctantly. Two wickets were down for eight when Hadlee and Dowling began a partnership which brought in 124 in two hours.

Motueka, without its offspinner. K. Baker, had only the leg-breaks of J. Beatson as relief from its accurate medium-pace attack. A Plun-

ket Shield player, I. Hampton, bowled some good early overs, and the New Zealand representative troubled the batsmen with out-swing before the ball, strangely for a Hagleg Park pitch, was reduced to tatters. Beatson bowled his leg-breaks courageously, keeping the ball up even when he was being punished.

Dowling and Hadlee had a period of thoughtful batting while the Motueka attack kept its edge, and before tea Dowling had twice been dropped. Hadlee drove handsomely, and the pair ran very well, so that by the interval Canterbury had reached 146 In 160 minutes, for three wickets, against keen bowling and fielding. After tea Dowling went to his century in 225 minutes, then added his third 50 in little more than half an hour of glorious stroke-making. He hit 11 fours and a six.

C. J. Stevens batted very quietly at first, then attacked Beatson successfully, but lost his wicket to a rash stroke. B. R. Taylor produced two or three

elegant drives and fell to an outstanding catch. The ball flew over Beatson’s head, but he turned, ran and dived full length to hold the ball. R. C. Motz contributed some brisk runs and Canterbury’s 307 came in 265 minutes, the final 100 in 70 minutes.

The Motueka fielding and bowling both looked a little weary before the innings was over. In the last 35 minutes Motueka’s opening batsmen survived rather uneasily against Motz and Taylor. The young Ashburton wicket-keeper. B. Isherwood, took the pace bowling competently. The umpires are Messrs J. Streeter and R. W. Hobbs. Scores:— CANTERBURY FIRST INNINGS G. T. Dowling, not out .. 152 C, L. Bull, b Hampton .. 2 B. F. Hastings, c Simpson, b Curtain 0 B. G. Hadlee, c Burrows, b Beaston 59 C. J. Stevens, c Hampton, b Beaston .33 B. R. Taylor, c Beaston. b Curtain ..23 R. C. Motz, not out .. 28 Extras (wide 1, byes 3, leg-byes 6) .. .. 10 Total for five wickets (dec.) 307 Bowling.—l. Hampton, 22, 8, 51, 1; W. Curtain, 25, 4. 85, 2: B. E. Congdon, 20, 4, 68. 0; M. Winn, 12, 1, 38, 0; J. Beaston, IS, 0, 55, 2. MOTUEKA FIRST INNINGS M. Heath, not out ..6 R. Simpson, not out .. 2 Extras (no-balls 3, legbye 1) .. .. 4 Total for no wicket .. 12 Bowling.—R. C. Motz, 5,3, 4, 0; B. R. Taylor, 4,2, 4, 0.