Fiji Wins At Rangiora

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31586, 25 January 1968, Page 9

Fiji Wins At Rangiora

Amid confusion and excitement, the Fijian cricket team yesterday beat North Canterbury by two wickets, at Rangiora.

Only after considerable checking of the two scorebooks was it , confirmed that Fiji had made 115, four more than needed for victory, and that A. F. Wright’s final bail of the day, hit for four by the Fijian manager, J. R. Rabukawaqa, was unnecessary. Fiji was given every opportunity to score the 111 needed ’i in 50 minutes when the North; Canterbury captain, Wright, opened with his off-spinner, A. F. Rapley, and soon afterwards brought on P. R. Rutherford. He then brought on R. C. Merrin, but the Fijians were hitting Rapley freely enough to achieve their win. POOR START North Canterbury began badly in the first innings, and the seven left-handers had trouble contending with B. Heibner. Bowling big outswingers off an economical run, he was able to make the odd ball jump a little outside the off-stump. S. J. Blakely, however, stood firm while wickets fell and whenever the opportunity came, drove powerfully. . Although the Fiji captain, N. Uluiviti, moved the ball in the air almost at will, the batsmen in the bottom half of the order went for runs willingly. N. .Dykes, playing in Fijian manner across the line, Merrin driving heartily for his highest score for North Canterbury, and the busy R. Judson, all made useful runs before the little Indian left-hander. G. Jamnadas, cleaned up the tail-enders. ML A. Dean distinguished himself with two fine outfield catches. HEIBNER IN FORM In its first innings, Fiji was given a good start by Heibner and H. ,T. Apted, who has been on every tour since the war and has been probably the best batsman on each occasion. Heibner was more aggressive, but when they were, parted, there was little resistance until Uluiviti came in. Even then, it required generous bowling by Wright before Uluiviti displayed any of the powerful drives that have won him such a reputation. Rapley. bowling his off-spin-ners, came on at frequent intervals to take wickets almost as he pleased. In North Canterbury’s helterskelter second innings. Judson —again—and E. J. Bailey laid about them lustily and Heibner and Uluivili, bowling unchanged for 45 minutes, took the nine wickets between them.

NORTH CANTERBURY F(rst Innings P. R. Williams c Rabukawaqa b Heibner .. 6 S. J. Blakely st Rabukawaqa b Jamnadas 65 E. J. Bailey c Rabukawaqa b Heibner 3 P. R. Rutherford lbw b Uluiviti 16 A. F. Wright c Rabukawaqa b Heibner 6 N. Dykes by Uluiviti . 25 W. Newton c Dean b Jamnadas 5 R. C Merrin c Bula b Helbner .. 37 R. Judson c Uluiviti b Jamnadas 37 R. James c Dean b Jamnadas 2 A. F. Rapley not out 0 Extras (byes 6, leg-byes 2 > .. .. 8 Total .. 210 Bowling.—A. Waqatabu, 5. 0, 15, 0; B. Heibner, 20. 5, 80 4 N. Uluiviti, 17. 1, 57, 2; G. Jamnadas, 12, 1, 50, 4. Second Innings Wright c Apted b Heibner . 4 Rapley c Waqatabu b Heibner .. 3 Judson c Rabukawaqa b Heibner . . *»4 Bailey b Uluiviti . 35 Rutherford c Jamnadas b Heibner 6 Blakely st Rabukawaqa b Uluiviti 4 Merrin c Waqatabu b Uluiviti 10 Williams c Dean b Heibner 2 Newton not out 1 Dykes c Heibner b Uluiviti 0 James not out 0 Extras (bye 1, leg-bye D 2 Total (for 9 wkts dec.) .. 91 Bowling.—Heibner, 8,0, 48, 5; Uluiviti, 8,0, 41, 4. FIJI First Innings H. J Apted c Blakely b Rapley . . H 21 B. Heibner st Judson b Rapley 57 I- Tabualeva c Blakely b Merrin j M. A. Dean lbw b Rapley . 4 I. L. Bula b Rapley *>3 A. Waqatabu b Wright ’’ “3 S. Aria b Bailey N. Uluiviti c Merrin b James 54 s. Naquto not out in J. R. Rabukawaqa b Rapley 1 G. Jamnadas c Wright b Rap0 Extras (byes 3, leg-byes 7, no-balls 4) .14 Tola l 191 Bowling.—R. C. Merrin. 8. 3. 13, 1; W. Newton, 6. 1, 18, O’ A F. Wright, 10, 1. 51, 1; A. F Rapley. 14.4, 1, 59. 6; ft. James 18 °1 18’ 1’ E’ J* ® a *ley, 3,0, Second Innings Heibner c James b Rapley 1 Apted st Judson b Rapley .. 9 Uluiviti b James ..31 Aria c Bailey b James .. 3 Tabualevu c and b Rutherford 2 Bula c Dykes b Wright 42 Waqatabu run out .. .. 13 Dean b Merrin 0 Naquto not out .. 5 Rabukawaqa not out . 4 Extras (byes 4, no-ball 1) 5 Total (for 8 wkts) .. 115 Bowling.—Rapley, 8. 0, 59, 2; James, 3,0, 12, 2; Rutherford, 1,0, 12, 1; Wright, 3 0 21 0; Merrin, 1,0, 6, 1.