Riccarton Bowling Countered

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

Riccarton Bowling Countered

First Day: Riccarton 195; Lancaster Park 75 for none. Bowling unchanged through the morning, the experienced Riccarton all-rounder, J. W. Kiddey, all but foiled the efforts of Lancaster Park to gain a first Innings lead. The way looked clear for Riccarton until a player of even greater experience, R. T. Dowker, went to bat and in a determined innings brought his team through a critical period when 12 runs were wanted with only two wickets to fall. The Lancaster Park pitch gave Kiddey little help and his success was founded on his impeccable control of length and the ability to move the ball a little. This, plus an occasional ball which came off sharply, had an almost mesmeric affect on the Lancaster Park batsmen.

Dowker played sensibly and well. His correct defensive play should be an object lesson to his fellow players. Many of his runs were made with characteristic pushes behind the wicket but he also played some nicely timed shots on the off side. At the end of the Lancaster Park innings, B. Andrews also showed good form, and he and Dowker scored 79 in their eighthwicket partnership. After the declaration at three o’clock Lancaster Park was denied a break-through and the Riccarton openers, D. W. Stead and G. T. Barrett, scored quickly, the first 50 runs taking only 32 minutes. But when the slow bowlers, B. C. Irving and D. J.

McKendry, came on, the scoring rate slowed. C. L. Broad batted soundly in this period and the Lancaster Park captain, A. G. Rose, took his first senior wicket when he tempted R. C. Motz to a big hit. Umpires: Messrs W. R. Hobbs and T. F. Mathie.