Travesty-Burwood

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31543, 4 December 1967, Page 16

Travesty-Burwood

An easy-paced wicket, a sodden ball, and dour defensive batting were the obstacle High School Old Boys found insurmountable in their attempt to gain an outright win at Burwood Park.

East Christchurch-Shirley followed on 157 runs behind. P. G. Coman and G. Tait began the second innings brightly, and 50 was scored in as many minutes. Then a heavy shower of rain took the pace out of the wicket, and by mid-afternoon the bill was a soggy, misshapen lump. Three hours were left when Old Boys score was passed, and with the bowlers so handicapped. East-Shirley was ideally poised to drive home the advantage. Old Boys, batting last

on a badly scoured wicket and facing a new ball, could have been in real trouble. EastShirley, however, was obsessed with the avoidance of outright defeat, and the resulting cricket was a sorry travesty. Long hops and full tosses were all treated with the same exaggerated respect by D. V Pulley and B. A. Howarth, and even B. G. Hadlee, bowling left and right arm in successive balls, could not tempt the batsmen. After such a display It may be pertinent to question whether East Christchurch-Shir-ley, both in ability and outlook, is up to first grade standard.

Umpires: Messrs L. C. Johnston and A. Keegan.