Hawke Cup To Nelson

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31306, 28 February 1967, Page 19

Hawke Cup To Nelson

The Hawke Cup yesterday returned to Nelson when the visiting team beat North Canterbury by four wickets at Dudley Park, Rangiora.

However, the final outcome was much closer than the final result indicates, and it took all the experience and batting skill of L B. Leggat to win the match for Nelson.

Nelson needed 202 to win, when the final North Canterbury wicket fell after half-an-hour in the morning, and made firm steps towards victory before lunch when the experienced pair, L. B. Reade and G. E. Lowans, scored 64 for the first wicket, Lowans being bowled round his legs by the last ball. The bowler was the former Canterbury off-spinner, A. F. Rapley, and this success was especially significant. The pitch was starting to break up and Rapley was gaining sharp and considerable turn. If one man appeared to have the fate of the match resting on his shoulders, it was Rapley. Reade and K. J. Wadsworth scored from healthy drives for a time after lunch but when Reade was bowled by W. R. Wilson, Rapley struck again. In the space of three overs—all maidens—he bad Wadsworth stumped and G. D. Lane caught at the wicket and Nelson still needed 99 with six wickets in hand. It was here that Leggat

won the match. With solid technique and back-foot play, he kept out the dangerous balls from Rapley and hit those less so very vigorously. In four overs, he took 21 from Rapley and the off-spinner was taken from the attack. With I. R. Hampton as a quiet but efficient partner, Leggat played a superb innings. Never in any real difficulty, he played all his shots with finely controlled aggression. Suddenly, after the fifth wicket pair had added 77, Leggat was out, caught in the deep off Rapley. Hampton was bowled the next over and North Canterbury again had the scent of victory but with too few runs in hand. The Nelson captain, D. V. Spence, stayed till tea, however, and hit five from Rapley’s only two balls after the interval to take the cup back to Nelson after an absence of only two years. North Canterbury lost the trophy after 34 days in possession but could take comfort that it led on the first innings and so nearly won outright. NORTF? CANTERBURY First Innings 229 Second Innings (138/9) A. F. Rapley, c Leggat, b Crothali .. is A. C. Merrln, not out 5 Extras (byes 4, no balls 7) .11 Total .. 154

Bowling.—E. G. Potts, 23, 9. 60, 4; C. F. Crothali, 17.4, 8, 30, 4; I. B. Leggat, 21, 9, 24, 1; K. A. Baker, 11, 5, 18, 0; I. R. Hampton, 6,2, 7,0; D. V. Spence, 1,0, 4. 1.

Bowling.—R. C. Merrln, 10, 2, 45, 0; W. R. Wilson, 22, 5, 56, 1; E. Bailey, 6,0, 22, 0; A. F. Rapley, 25.2, 9, 59, 5; A. F. Wright, 4,1, 7, 0.

NELSON First Innings 182 Second Innings B. Reade, b Wilson 40 G. E. Lowans b Rapley 27 K. J. Wadsworth, st Judson, b Rapley 23 G. D. Lane, c Judson, b Rapley 9 I. R. Hampton, b Rapley .. 29 I. B. Leggat, c Rutherford, b Rapley 50 D. V., Spence, not out 10 R. D. Wilson, not out 1 Extras (byes 6, leg byes 4, no balls 3) .. 13 Total, for 6 wkts .. 202