Riccarton Hits Back

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31501, 16 October 1967, Page 16

Riccarton Hits Back

Sent in by B. G. Hadlee. Riccarton survived some early disasters and was tn a strong position at the close. P. G. Wall, i recruit from Ashburton, who played in the last season’s Brabin tournament, made a promising debut, with some firm front-foot shots. • T. Barrett looked sound and safe and P. A. Stubbings made some handsome strokes. But most of the runs came from Anderson and Madrussen, both of whom batted with distinction.

Anderson, a young batsman of particular promise, hit five fours in an over from J. H. Christensen and one of them was a memorable blow. The ball was short and Anderson, in a moment of true majesty, stood straight and cut it square with the power, elegance and assurance of a young Hammond. He showed he is still inclined to let fast scoring persuade him into indiscretion, but it was a delightful display, and the forerunner of many ihore successes. Madrussen, whose senior career has been very brief, but very successful, has had no cricket for two years, but he middled the ball from the start, used a good range of strokes, and gave a highly attractive and profitable performance. He made his runs in only 100 minutes. Later, J. W. Kiddey took toll of some rather ragged bowling.

D. R. Hadlee won much admiration. There was nothing in the pitch—and often little in the fielding—to encourage him, but he plugged away determinedly to take five wickets

Riccarton cut into the Old Boys batting early, and R. C. Motz gave B. G. Hadlee a bad time for a while. But Hadlee slowly came into his own, and W. R. Barbarel made some fine drives in restoring partial order to the innings. Umpires: Messrs F. Goodall and R. P. Prosser.