Fijians Narrowly Escape Defeat

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31560, 23 December 1967, Page 15

Fijians Narrowly Escape Defeat

(New Zealand Press Association) GISBORNE. Set to score 145 runs in 95 minutes for victory, the touring Fijian cricketers had the tables turned on them and narrowly escaped defeat against Poverty Bay yesterday-

Fiji was 79 for nine at the close, its No. 11 batsman, A. Waqatabu, having a life when he snicked the fourth ball of the last over between the slips. The Fijians chased the runs in the early stages, but when J. Beuth and R. Haynes began to take wickets at regular intervals the picture changed. It soon became evident that Beuth and Haynes could win the game for Poverty Bay, and the only man who looked like foiling them was the magnificent little battler, H. Apted. Apted batted resolutely, showing remarkable ability to protect the tail-enders.

With 10 minutes left, however, Haynes captured Apted’s wicket when he was on 44, and Fiji was 68 for nine. But the last pair, P. Sigeva and Waqatabu, defended grimly to give the Fijians a first innings win by 158 runs. Beuth finished with four for 48 and Haynes five for 25. In Bay’s second innings, S. Veitch scored a magnificent 111, and he and P. Maicon put on 146 for the second wicket. Veitch hit 10 fours and Maicon six boundaries. Scores: Poverty Bay 175 and 302 (Veitch 111, Maicon 70, B. Atkins 37; A. Waqatabu 6/60), Fiji 333/5 dec. and 79/9.