Hastings Single-Wicket Tournament Winner

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31323, 20 March 1967, Page 15

Hastings Single-Wicket Tournament Winner

B. F. Hastings does not bowl for West-University, because, he claims, he is captain, but yesterday at Burwood Park the Canterbury representative entered the all-rounder category.

Hastings won the East Christchurch-Shirley Cricket Club’s single-wicket tournament—the first such tourney held by a club in Christchurch—in a very tense final with his Canterbury teammate, K. I. Ferries, after many of the favourites were eliminated.

There was a day of absorbing cricket for a happy crowd which basked in glorious weather at a picturesque ground. Small tiered seating, colourful tents, a roped boundary and a speaker system all added to the arena appearance. Hastings survived some very tight, and exciting matches before emerging at the head of the field. Grocott Unlucky In his first game, he met J. W. Grocott who was one of the unluckiest players not to proceed any further. Hastings thrashed some innocuous bowling magnificently to make 41 in his four overs but Grocott, driving and pulling with great vigour, reached 38 with three balls to play. But he missed all of them and Hastings was a narrow victor. Hastings’s second game was also dose. S. C. Guillen made 26 not out very weM and after Hastings scored 14 off the first over, he was contained to the extent that he had only four balls in hand before hitting the winning runs. Then Hastings had to survive some fiercely antagonistic bowling from the New Zealand test player, R. S. Cunis, before winning in gathering gloom.

The surprise of the tournament was the late addition. Ferries. He eliminated J. C. Alabaster, who has had a good all-round season, In the first match; batted too well for M. L. Ryan in the second round; and won his semi-final against P. G. Coman

with an exquisite square-cut for four after Coman had made three.

Low-Scoring Gamez Coman also had a good tournament. He beat the New Zealand coach and former England test player, M. J. Horton, in the first round when Horton became a little rash though stHl with an over to score the runs. Coman featured in some of the lowestscoring matches for he won hds second round game against R. C. four lll a,thouB;h “airing only

TBe hi'Sl’l'ight of the day was probably provided by E. H. M. Richards, Canterbury’s top golfer. Richards has slipped out of club cricket in the last three or four years but a fine eye and free hitting served him well against Ryan. After an exploratory start, Richards assaulted Ryan in hie third over, hitting 17 in five balls, including a magnificent six over the top to long-off. But Ryan, hitting impishly in the air, scored the vital runs with a ball remaining. Richards batted only three overs for his 28.

The most delicious moment for the crowd came in the second round when Cunis and J. M. Mclntyre met. Cunis was caught at the wicket for a duck, third ball, and Mclntyre had his stumps shattered first ball.

The conditions of the tournament demanded that a tie be decided by a sprint between the pavilion and pitch. Mclntyre made a desperate dive but Cunis had the race in hand.

A total of 369 runs were scored in under four hours, 196 of these from 37 fours and eight sixes. Sixty-two overs and five balls were bowled and the fielding was provided by members o-f the promoting club. Results: First Round.—P. G. Coman 14 (17 balls) beat M. J. Horton 8 (17 balls). R. C. Merrin 1 not out (2 balls) beat J. W. Klddey 0 (2 balls), K. I. Ferries 21 (23 balls) beat J. C. Alabaster 13 (22 balls). M. L. Ryan 31 not out (23 balls) beat E. H. M. Richards 28 (18 balls). B. F. Hastings 41 retired (24 balls) beta ■T. W. Grocott 38 not out (24 tails). S. C. Gullen 36 retired (24 balls) beat J. W. Burtt 8 (8 balls).

J. McL. Mclntyre 2 not out (2 balls) beat J. D. Capstick 1 18 balls). R. S. Cunis 1 not out (3 balls) beat A. M. McKendry 0 (4 bails). Second Round.—Coman 4 (10 balls) beat Merrin 0 (7 balls). Ferries 18 not out (18 balls) beat Ryan 16 (18 balls). Hastings 27 not out (20 balls) beat Guillen 26 retired (24 balls). Cunis 0 (3 balls) beat Mclntyre 0 (1 ball) in a sprint. Semi-finals.—Ferries 4 not out (3 balls) beat Coman 3 (7 balls). Hastings 13 not out (15 balls) beat Cunis 9 (15 balls). Final.—Hastings 4 not out (9 bails) beat Ferries 2 (5 bails). Inter-Service Cricket Bad light brought an early close to the two two-day cricket matches which opened the interServices sports tournament at Burnham yesterday. Army, 171 (H. James 37, N. Newnham 32, J. Watson 30; R. H. Prouting 3/43, J. Stevens 3/43, S. G. Morton 3/43); Police, 14/1. Air Force, 346/6 dec. (R. L. Cusdin 113, J. Peacock 81. G. Ritchie 33, D. F. Dryland 30, J. North 30; L. G. Morley 2/68 A. Calkin 2/66); v. Navy.