BOWLERS HIT BACK

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31304, 25 February 1967, Page 15

BOWLERS HIT BACK

Snatching three wickets in the last hour of play, North Canterbury partially overcame an insufficient batting performance to remain well in the hunt in its Hawke Cup match against Nelson at Rangiora yesterday.

North Canterbury, in its first defence of the cup, made 229, and Nelson lost three wickets for 57, at the end of a very hot day. After the solid opening partnership between P. R. Williams and D. R. Farrant was broken, North Canterbury never took command of the attack but nonetheless stayed in the picture with useful partnerships for the fourth, sixth, seventh and eighth wickets, all 34 or more but none past 50. Eight of the batsmen made double figures and six passed 20, A. F. Wright top scoring with 33. Wright, the North

Canterbury captain, and A. F. Rapley featured in probably the most vital partnership for when they came together, North Canterbury was 161 for seven. However, sensible aggression restored the position. Earlier, P. Rutherford and E. Bailey had in a quiet way taken the score from 31 for three to 77 for four, and R. Judson, predominately a legside hitter, and I. F. Sail made useful contributions. The Nelson attack was based on medium-pace and K. Baker’s off-spinners, and for a time it appeared that Baker would sweep through the innings while L B. Leggat kept things quiet at the other end. However, Baker was attacked violently in his later overs and in the end the most successful bowler was C. Crothall, who looked rather innocuous for the most part. Nelson started briskly, but when a sound-looking L. B. Reade was bowled by R. C. Merrin and W. R. Wilson took two wickets in an over, it was in dire straits. However another two of the nine left-handers who have so far batted, G. E. Lowans and I. R. Hampton, took command for the last half-hour.

NORTH CANTERBURY First Innings D. R. Farrant, lbw, b Cro-

thall .15 P. R. Williams, b Hampton 10 P. Rutherford, c Leggat, b Baker 27 G. T. Wright, c Leggat, b Hampton 0 E. Bailey, c Wadsworth, b Baker .28 I. F. Sail, c Reade, b Cro-

thall . 23 R. Judson, c Wilson, b Hampton ..26 A. F. Wright, b Crothall .. 33 A. F. Rapley, lbw, b Crothall 32 W. R. Wilson, not out . 8 R. C. Merrin, c Baker, b Reade 5

Extras (byes 9, leg-byes 3, no-balls 10) .. 22

Total . 229 Bowling: E. Botts, 4,2, 10, 0; C. Crothall, 24, 15, 24, 4; I. R. Hampton, 17, 6, 53, 3; I. B. Leggat, 21, 11, 29, 0; K. Baker, 33, 13, 68, 2; D. V. Spence, 7, 0, 15, C; L. B. Reade, 3.5, 1,8, 1.

NELSON First Innings

L. B. Reade, b Merrin .. 4 G; E. Lowans, not out .. 24 K. J. Wadsworth, c Judson, b

Wilson ’ - - . • 18 G. D. Lane, b Wilson .. 0 I. R. Hampton, not out .. 9 Extras (no-ball 1, wide 1) 2

Total for three wkts. 57

Bowling: R. C. Merrin, 8,4, 29, 1; W. R. Wilson, 9,4, 16 2; E. Bailey, 1,0, 6,9; A. F. Rapley, 1. 0,4, 0.