Country Cricket

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31269, 16 January 1967, Page 14

Country Cricket

ELLESMERE The Ellesmere senior competition leader, Leeston, failed by five wickets to win outright when the competiiton resumed on Saturday. Leeston declared at 177, on the fall of the first wicket, but Weedons held out comfortably when forced to follow on. Because of harvesting, most teams were depleted. Points: Leeston io’, Irwell 7, Lincoln 6, Southbridge 5, Dunsandel 3. Weedons 2. Scores: Irwell 200 (D. Mcßae 61, T. Barton 32, W. Brooks 22, D. Lili 23, L. Rennie 24; W. Jones 2/39, A. Scott 2/44) drew with Dunsandel 138/6 (A. Scott 24 not out, D. Mcßae 2/20). Leeston 177/1 declared (I. Reesby 87, M. Barclay 84 not out) beat Weedons 79 (T. Watson 42; C. Taylor 6/22, J Chamberlain 2/10) and 110/5 (E. Chatterton 28; R. Taylor 2/23) on the first innings. Lincoln beat Southbridge by default. ASHLEY The state of senior A matches in the Ashley competition could have a bearing on championship points. Kaiapoi A, well placed in its match, is within five points of the leader, Woodend, which may have to struggle to maintain a first-innings lead over Ohoka. The state of senior A matches is: Kaiapoi A 302 (M. Capstick 29, P. Williams 89, C. Merrin 81. W. Wilson 61; A. O’Loughlin 6/60, K. O'Loughlin 4/72) met Carle-ton-Amberley. Kaiapoi B 266 (R. McAllister 52, T. Black 20, P. Lightfoot 24, D. McAllister 100; K. Ford 5/70, I. Doody 3/69) met Oxford 9/2. Woodend 169 (R. Merrin 55, D. Eder 22, B. Gebbie 23; E. Bailey 2/24, W. Vette 5/48, J. Scott 2/38) met Ohoka 22/1 (R. Merrin 1/9). Rangiora 62 (A. Sail 17; R. James 7/24, D. Escott 2/27) and 44/1 (I. Sail 30; R. James 1/21) met Fernside 74 (R. Taylor 35; N. Coates 4/19, I. Sail 3/26). BANKS PENINSULA The third century of the season by the Le Bon’s batsman, P. Johnston, typified the run rate which was fast and sometimes furious in the Banks Peninsula senior competition on Saturday. Johnston, batting at No. 5, rectified an indifferent start with strong-armed batting and welltimed cuts against a medium pace attack that wilted as he made his runs in just over an hour. Little River lost its competition lead to a consistent-batting Kaituna team, while in the other match United hammered 176 for the loss of D. Marshall’s wicket in the incredible time of 50 minutes. On the same pitch Wainui batted twice for 133 runs. Points: Kaituna 72, United 72, Little River 71, Le Sons 65, Akaroa 52, Wainui 28. Scores: Le Bons, 250/9 declared (D. Masefield 20, P. Johnston 101, P. McKay 37, J. Devonshire 31; J. Corrodous 4/60, P. Cooks 2/41) beat Akaroa, 181 (T. Haley 75, M. Hirst 21; R. Inwood 3/36, P. McKay 2/32, J. Mclntosh 2/6) on the first innings. Kaituna, 170/4 (T. Turner 45, R. Lanauze 53 not out. E. Allan 36 not out: B. Milner 2/57) beat Little River, 168 (J. Humphries 60. G. Mathias 34; R. Lanauze

2/46, W. Newton 4/58) on the first innings. United, 176/1 declared (Paul Haglund 77 not out, D. Marshall 49, Peter Haglund 36 not out) beat Wainui, 77 (J. Hutchinson 31; Peter Haglund 2/21, B. Caterer 6/34, including the hat trick, R. Harris 2/1) and 56 (I. Plumber 4/18, I. Morton 2/26) by an innings and 43 runs. MALVERN A fine double by the representative player, A. Wright, gave Sheffield an exciting first innings win over Hororata in the Malvern senior competition on Saturday. Wright fell four runs short of his century in trying to reach the boundary and with the first and third balls of the day’s final over he bowled the last two Hororata batsmen with his left-arm, slow-medium deliveries. C. Adams and P. Blakley continued their good form to score most of Hororata’s runs, and J. Marsh and R. Tilson compiled half centuries for South Malvern. R. Abbott, who took four wickets for South Malvern, now has 15 wickets in his last three matches. Points: Darfleld 75, Sheffield 61, Greendale 58 Hororata 55, Kirwee 47, South Malvern 26. Scores: —. South Malvern, 208 (J. Marsh 54, R. Tilson 51, R. Stuart 23; G. Ridgen 4/71, C. Chapman 4/65, P. Pascoe 2/42) drew with Greendale, 113/7 (G. Ridgen 29 not out, B. Ridgen 29; R. Abbott 4/45, J. Marsh 2/15). Sheffield, 178/6 (A. Wright 96, L. Innes 27: J. Davies 3/34, P. Blakley 2/32) beat Hororata, 161 (C. Adams 75, P. Blakley 76: A. Wright 5/62, K. Howarth 3/39). Darfleld, 161/8 (R. Farrant 47, D. Shaw 33: J. Withers 4/41, S. Reardon 3/59) beat Kirwee. 113 (G. Wright 37, K. Dailey 18; B. Johnston 3/35. T. Wall 2/26, R. Gunn 2/25). Bonus points: South Malvern, Hororata, and Darfleld. Poor State Of Pitch (From Our Own Reporter) WELLINGTON. The state of the cricket pitch on the Basin Reserve is causing anxiety to cricket officials. There is a strong possibility that the New Zealand Cricket Council may have to consider whether the pitch is fit for first class matches, particularly as one of the tests against the Australians will be played at Wellington. On the last day of the Auck-land-Wellington Plunket Shield match the pitch was sub-stand-ard. It had broken up, was powdery and the Auckland fast bowlers, R. S. Cunis and R. E. Sutton, were almost unplayable at times. In a previous match, between Wellington and Central Districts, the pitch also was most unsatisfactory. The New Zealand Cricket Council has emphasised the need for good pitches, and it must be aware that the Basin Reserve at present does not have a pitch capable of lasting for three days.

M.C.C. Under-25 Team Tour (N.Z.P.A .-Reuter—Copyright) LONDON. The first under-25 M.C.C. team left London by air on Saturday for Karachi, for a five-week tour of Pakistan. Fourteen players, captained by M. Brearley and managed by the former test wicket keeper, L. Ames, made up the touring team . Ellesmere Beaten Banks Peninsula beat Ellesmere in a representative Subassociation cricket match for the Masefield Memorial Trophy at Leeston yesterday. W. Newton contributed most to Banks Peninsula's first innings win by batting correctly and without chance for 50 and capturing seven wickets for 60, with good variation of length and pace. Scores. —Ellesmere 188 (D. McRae 55, N. Wallis 24, D. Lay 27; Newton 7/60). Banks Peninsula 190/5 (R. Kay 40. Paul Haglund 23, Newton 50. P. Johnston 52; A. Grayburn 3/53).