Riccarton Bowlers Have Field Day

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31275, 23 January 1967, Page 16

Riccarton Bowlers Have Field Day

First Day*. Riccarton 96; St. Albans 125. It was action and violence all down the day at Hagley, when Riccarton outplayed St. Albans, Broad played a splendid innings, but the.bowlers held the whip hand on a lively pitch. From the start of play, B. R. Taylor was able to make the ball fly venomously, sometimes from a full length, and Broad adopted the best possible policy —a counter-attack of similar spirit. Although St. Albans bowling rate was again very moderate, Broad scored his 70 in 101 minutes, with a rather slow infield. He made occasional errors, but they were almost inevitable, when he was so determined to play shots on a difficult pitch. He made many magnificent hits, driving and pulling vigorously. G. T. Barrett fought courageously to 34, and shared a partnership with Broad of 77 in an hour; but both of them, sadly, were run

out, and before the innings was over there was a third run-out —a sorry reflection on lack of proper communications. J. W. Kiddey batted with the skill and exuberance of his youth. He hit some magnificent square cuts and when he hit a six from K. I. Ferries, R. C. Motz regarded it as a fitting moment for the declaration. It was a good one: St. Albans had 160 minutes to score 158. It was no race. Riccarton’s bowlers won early success, and thereafter bowled like demons.

K. Nicholson, bowling with very considerable pace, broke the top batting, Motz and Kiddey carried the thrust further, and there was no-one to halt the decline.

Both teams missed catches, took some good ones, and produced a very high standard of ground fielding. Umpires: Messrs L. C .Johnston and J. W. Streeter.