SPLENDID FIGURES

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31631, 18 March 1968, Page 16

SPLENDID FIGURES

Nicholson In Form

Bowling at an impressive speed and with considerable hostility the Riccarton fast bowler, K. A. Nicholson, had match figures of 13 for 83 in the match against Old Collegians at Elmwood Park.

Although the pitch was reasonably placid, bowlers controlled the match. Nicholson and J. W. Kiddey bowled all but 10 of the 54 overs in Old Collegians’ first innings and took nine wickets; in the second innings they bowled unchanged to rout Old Collegians for a meagre 66.

At one stage Old Collegians had lost eight wickets for 34 runs, but lusty hitting by J. H. M. Dawson and N. G. Clark restored a semblance of respectability to the score. Old Collegians had been set the task of scoring 177 runs in 134 minutes in its second innings—a hard task—for the pitch assisted the faster bowlers and the outfield was slow.

Nicholson’s virtue of bowling at the wickets forced the batsmen into errors. After being injured earlier in the season, Nicholson has taken 24 wickets in his last two matches. Kiddey bowled well for his six wickets and both he and Nicholson were well supported by smart catching by Riccarton. M. G. Lester and J. W. Gebbie batted soundly to help Old Collegians score 134—60 behind Riccarton’s first innings. Gebbie batted patiently for his 43. Riccarton tried for quick runs in its second innings but it was not able to score freely off the bowling of Dawson and Curtis. R. w. Anderson hit a useful 33, but it was left to the last men, Nicholson and G. R. McAulay, to brighten the innings with an aggressive partnership which allowed an earlier declaration.

Umpires: Messrs W. R. Holt and L. C. Moore.