Hostile Central Bowling Demolished Canterbury

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31256, 31 December 1966, Page 13

Hostile Central Bowling Demolished Canterbury

(By

R. T. BRITTENDEN)

Speed and spin, both admirably controlled and directed, have given Central Districts every chance of taking full points from Canterbury for the first time since 1957-58.

At the end of the second day of their Plunket Shield match yesterday, Canterbury’, 201 and 25 for one, was still 184 runs behind Central’s first innings of 410.

The speed came from the towering left-hander, R. 0. Colli nge, who set Canterbury back on its heels by taking two wickets in his first four overs. The spin came principally from B. W. Yuile and V. Pollard, both of whom bowled so accurately and well that they offered the Canterbury slow bowlers a sharp reminder of their sins of omission. Canterbury contributed to its own demise with some patchy batting—a legacy, perhaps, of more than eight hours and a half in the field, and the vast Central Districts total. Rough Footmarks The pitch again played very truly and well, but the Central Districts spinners occasionally dropped a ball in footmarks wide of the stumps. From them it turned abruptly at times, but the rough was more of a psychological weapon in the bowlers’ hands than a practical problem for the batsmen. It was a grey and cheerless morning, but in the last period of play there was brilliant sunshine. The match may finish today in sufficient warmth to compensate for earlier miseries. There were some splendid, resounding chords in the rather erratic composition of the Canterbury innings. G. T. Dowling and K. Thomson, together again in a disaster area, rebuilt with courage and vision. When they were parted, the walls came tumbling down again. However, there was some fine batting from J. W. Burtt, J. M. Mclntyre and J. T. Ward. But it came too late to effect lasting repairs. Central Districts has been in control of the match almost throughout, and it has deserved its strong position. Only its morning play, each day, has been of dubious quality. Slow Batting Yesterday, nearly 100 minutes were used in scoring 63 for the last four wickets. With such a score when play began, the time and runs ratio was not quite good enough. Otherwise, it was nearly all Central Districts. And this young team w r on admiration, too, for its attitude. Twice it showed commendable sportsmanship—in the matter of whether a four had been scored or saved, and later, whether a catch had been taken or put to ground. Central Districts batted 516 minutes and scored at an average rate of 2.6 runs an over—a good mark, after so slow a start Canterbury averaged about 19 overs an hour. Motz was again an unlucky bowler. His six overs yesterday cost only five runs, and he certainly deserved a wicket or two during his marathan of 38 overs. Taylor it was who had the rewards—during the morning, 3 for 26, and in all, 5 for 83. He showed great spirit in trying to flog life from the pitch, and he bowled with accuracy. Smooth Efficiency He had a fine understanding with his wicket-keeper, Ward: three times during the Central Districts innings batsmen were observed standing just outside the crease. Three times Ward managed to glide from his distant post, with the smooth efficiency of a Jeeves coming to the aid of the young master, to take the ball at the stumps and remove the bails. The stratagem brought no practical rewards. but it did everyone good to see it Andrews was a little more costly than the others, but he was saved a century when he removed J. Howell. Collinge made an impressive showing with his pace, and he even achieved some lift occasionally when he had no right to expect it Last season Collinge, suffering for a period from a heel injury, seemed to have lost the fire which took him into the New Zealand team and on tour. Impressive Appeal Yesterday, he seemed bigger and faster than ever. His genuine speed, and the awkward angle of his delivery, which runs the ball across the batsman towards the slips, had C. L. Bull and C. J. Stevens in difficulties, and out Both of them played on. Collinge has developed in other respects. He now has a most impressive appeal, towering over the umpire and demanding a decision like an Australian. But unless he has somehow learned to bend the ball like a banana, he will not win many l.b.w appeals.

B. F. Hastings and Dowling saw Canterbury through to lunch —13 for two, in 40 minutes—and Hastings batted in all, three-quarters of an hour. His contribution was small, except in time, and there it was useful, for he helped see Collinge and the shine off. He looked likely to settle down to play a major innings, but was out just when he seemed to be emerging from the batting darkness. Thomson was greeted with shrill cries from the children, more formal but no less genuine applause from the others. On Thomson and Dowling rested the fate of the innings. Against Otago, their partnerships had been 100 and 140 (unfinished). And they looked as if they were going to do something just as spectacular again. Dowling, who had played some attractive and easily produced strokes earlier, seemed to lose touch a little, but be looked safe and sure, until Pollard came on. Counter-Attack But for much of the partnership, he played well, and Thomson, a magnetic personality, began as if the score was 500 for one. In his first 11 minutes, he struck four boundaries, and the pair scored 33 In their first 20 minutes together. A recovery was needed, and this sort of counter-attack was magnificent. Thomson, at 30 from 30 balls in 28 minutes, delighted with his fierce square cutting, his occasional, powerful drives, and his perfectlytimed deflections. The pair went to 50 in 37 minutes. But Yuile and Pollard first checked, then defeated the batsmen.

They had scored 61 together in 55 minutes when Dowling departed. He had not played Pollard well, showing a tendency to walk outside the line of flight and push across it. He was easily taken at short mid-wicket by Yuile. And Yuile first contained Thomson, then beat him. Thomson went down the pitch to hit wide of mid-on, but the ball dropped on him, and he was bowled. Dowling’s 33 made him Canterbury’s top scorer in matches against Central Districts, and Thomson’s career aggregate was taken beyond 1500. Cheap Wickets Then Canterbury lost further ground, swiftly. From 95 for three, the score went to 109 for seven, with Motz caught in the deep and Taylor picked up at slip from a ball Yuile ran away from him. Burtt gave a sharp chance to Douglas in the slips off Collinge early, but lived to put some colour back into the innings. Tidy, efficient, stylish, he drove beautifully, brought off some lazy cuts, and flicked the ball away off the pad expertly. Mclntyre and Burtt scored 50 together in 54 minutes, and there was everything to admire in Mclntyre’s batting. He kept his head, but he lost no opportunity of attacking, and he hit some thumping blows into the outfield, as well as some firm straight drives. When they had gone, Ward and Andrews scored 32 for the last wicket, Canterbury thus achieving the modest

respectability of a second century.

Ward, who has spent too much of his batting life just above the extras, drove and pulled happily and effectively and Andrews, with a highly-developed ability to have the ball evade clutching fingers, was a spirited ally. Canterbury batted 260 minutes and scored 2.3 runs an

Lap Record. —The world racing champion, J. Brabham (Australia), broke the lap record in the first practice session for the South African Grand Prix. Driving his Repco Brabham, he covered the 2.5-mile circuit in Imin 28.3 sec at an average speed of 103.7 m.p.h.

over. Central Districts had a bowling rate of 20 overs an hour.

Canterbury had a further 40 minutes’ batting before stumps. Bull saw Collinge for all of his five overs but departed, unexpectedly, just before the close of play. Douglas bowled a very short one outside the leg stump and Schofield took the catch.