Day Of Assertive, Vigorous Cricket

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 31904, 4 February 1969, Page 17

Day Of Assertive, Vigorous Cricket

If cricket in the Rothman’s national under-23 tournament retains the attractions it held on the first day yesterday, by the end of the week every cricketer in the city not completely bedridden will be out to watch the play.

There was assertive and vigorous cricket in each of the three matches, New-ball bowlers were hit hard and often; and established Plunket Shield players were sometimes struggling for runs against determined bowling from unknowns. Features of the play were the proficient batting of G. M. Turner, who scored a century for Otago, and a spectacular double by D. R. Hadlee, for Canterbury. Turner, a strong candidate for New Zealand’s test teams this summer, gave a superb display in making 113 against Auckland. His bat sometimes looked absurdly wide, but he was certainly not all defence. He showed a marked ability to hit the ball well and find the gaps. Hadlee took most wickets for Canterbury against Wellington and came in 45 minutes from the end of the day to hit up 65 not out, a calculated assault of delightful quality. Scores:— Wellington 145; Canterbury 237 for six wickets. Central Districts 224; Northern Districts IM for two wickets. Otago 304; Auckland 40 for one wicket. The first-round matches will end today, with Canterbury at present having the best prospects of forcing an outright win. But in every match, the willingness of batsmen to hit the ball was in marked contrast with much of the batting seen in senior competition and Plunket Shield matches.

Wellington v. Canterbury The bold hitting of M. Betts and J. F. M. Morrison early in Wellington’s innings argued an abjlity to master Canterbury’s pace bowling, and A. R. Hounsell, who had the difficult task of bowling into the strong southerly which marred the morning, was driven vigorously and often. The batsmen lost their wickets rather unexpectedly, and B. D. Smith showed genuine class, if briefly. A straight drive for 4 off Hounsell was one of the great shots of the day, for its power and timing. But Hadlee, beginning his second spell, took three wickets in an over, and the score plummetted to 78 for eight. Then R. O. Collinge and C. J. Coney made the most of some loose bowling from C. M. Kirk, scoring 53 in the last 33 minutes of the morning. Hounsell, winning some reward for earlier efforts, rounded off the innings and Canterbury began at such a pace that it seemed the target was the lead by tea.

D. W. Stead twice hit W. Greensmith for 6, while the new ball was at its shiniest, and in 20 minutes he and C. L. Bull had made 33.

Bull played extremely well, bringing off some splendid drives and square cuts. He looked a very good batsman in very good form. But as Canterbury neared Wellington’s score, the off-spin of P. Wilson became a danger and Hadlee, promoted in the order, went after him. He hit the first ball he faced for 6, sent three others well clear of the boundary and also had seven 4’s in a brilliant display of attacking cricket. Even the fast bowlers were put to the sword. B. Bhana helped him add 59 in 40 minutes and Hadlee’s great effort put his side in a very strong position. Collinge seemed to lack the flow of a fast bowler at his best. Wilson looked interesting, and Canterbury may need all the lead it can get. Scores:— WELLINGTON • First Innings G. Newdijck b Hounsell 1 M. Betts b Trist .18 R. W. Smith c Hounsell b Hadlee 2 J. F. M. Morrison b Kirk .. 29 B. D. Smith b Trist .. 9 R. Vogtherr b Hadlee. .. 2 J. V. Coney not out 47 G. Murphy lbw b Hadlee .. 0 W. Greenstreet lbw b Hadlee 0 R. O. Collinge b Hounsell 18 P. Wilson b Hounsell . 6

Extras (byes 4, leg-byes 2, no-balls 7) .. 13 Total 145 Fall of wickets: One for 2, two for 7, three for 44, four for 62, five for 62, six for 78, seven for 78, eight for 78, nine for 136. Bowling.—D. R. Hadlee, 12, 3, 23, 4; A. R. Hounsell, 11.4, 2, 46, 3; D. G. Trist, 7,2, 21, 2; C. M. Kirk, 6. 1, 38, 1; D. W. Stead, 1,0, 4, 0. CANTERBURY First Innings C. L. Bull lbw b Wilson .. 74 D. W,. Stead lbw b Collinge 22 J. D. Riley b Collinge .. 25 R. W. Anderson b Wilson 19 R. E. Gearry c and b Wilson 10 B. Bhana lbw b Collinge .. 13 D. R. Hadlee not out .. 65 B. P. Isherwood not out .. 0 Extras (leg-byes 2, noballs 7) 9 Total for six wickets 237 Fall of wickets: One for 33, two for 80, three for 113, four for 152, five for 159, six for 218. Bowling.—R. O. Collinge, 13, O, 67, 3; W. Greenstreet, 9,1, 65, 0; P. Wilson, 17, 6. 53, 3; G. Murphy, 8,3, 20. 0; J. F. M. Morrison, 8,4, 23. 0. Northern v. Central Northern Districts held a slight advantage over Central Districts at the end of the day. In reply to Central’s 224, Northern, consolidated by an unbeaten third-wicket partnership between the young Plunket Shield batsmen, D. P. R. Lloyd and A. D. G. Roberts, was 118 behind, with eight wickets in hand. Central’s hopes of a big score were high after the openers, R. A. Priest and B. Baldwin, put on 111 runs, most of them coming from well-timed drives by both batsmen. But a collapse occurred in the middle of the order, three wickets falling with the total at 114. J. Hayes batted competently for 30, and A. Jordan hit lustily towards the end of the innings, but the main batting hope of the side. K. Wadsworth, was dismissed second ball. The medium-paced E. Hipkiss toiled well in two steady spells, and by keeping a good line and occasionally obtaining a little cut from the pitch, he was rewarded with five wickets for an honest effort. R. McGill and R. C. Hooton gave accurate support, McGill bowling six overs before he conceded a run. Northern lost the wicket of P. Malcolm with only eight runs

on the board, but sensible batting from Hooton and Lloyd, and later, Roberts, kept the total rising safely and steadily. Scores:— CENTRAL DISTRICTS First Innings R. Priest c Lloyd b Hooton 53 B. Baldwin c and b McGill 50 J. Hayes lbw b Hipkiss .. 30 K. Wadsworth c Hooton b McGill 0 T. Paterson run out .. 0 M. Herrick c Gibson b Hooton 20 R. Hunter c Hdoton b Hipkiss 2 A. Jordan c McGill b Hipkiss 25 R. Cox c Hooton b Hipkiss 10 R. Selby not out .. 13 W. Coventry b Hipkiss .. 1 Extras (byes 7, leg-byes 6, ho-balls 7) . 20 Total .. 224 Fall of wickets: one for 111, two for 114, three for 114, four for 114, five for 170, six for 178, seven for 191, eight for 209, nine for 220, 10 for 224, Bowling: E. Hipkiss, 14.7, 0, 58, 5; A. Roberts, 8,2, 18, 0; P. Fraser, 7,1, 33, 0; R. C. Hooton, 24, 5, 67, 2; R. McGill, 19, 8, 28, 2. NORTHERN DISTRICTS First Innings R. C. Hooton c Wadsworth b Jordan .. 25 P. Malcolm lbw b Cox .. 4 D. Lloyd not out . 43 A. Roberts not out .. 19 Extras (wides 1, byes 6, leg-byes 8) .. 15 Total for two wkts 106 Fall of wickets: one for 8, two for 40. Bowling: A. Jordan, 10, 3, 22, 1; R. Cox, 11. 3, 39, 1; W. Coventry, 8,2, 29, 0; R. Hunter, 2,1, 1, 0. AUCKLAND v. OTAGO G. M. Turner, the Worcestershire professional, won the toss for Otago and took first use of an easy-paced pitch at the Christ’s College ground. He and W. L. Blair opened confidently against a steady but not dangerous Auckland attack and after the dismissal of Blair, Turner and N. M. Parker featured in a fine 55 run partnership. Beginning after lunch with the score at 108 for two, Turner, obviously intent on scoring a century, was soon joined at the crease by N. McKenzie and these two added another 102 runs in only 90 minutes in a most valuable and entertaining partnership. Turner reached his 100

after 240 minutes, hitting 14 fours. Turner was dismissed with the total on 210 but McKenzie carried on confidently until he was caught behind off the bowling of W. Hand for a fine 69. With instructions to chase quick runs, - the remaining batsmen were in trouble against the medium-paced bowlers, Hand and C. Wilson, and the innings finished on 311. Turner’s century was a gem: at all times he was in command of the situation. His punishing shots, his deft placings for singles and his powerful cover driving put him in a class of his own on the day. Hand bowled accurately and well, as did Wilson, but neither is the type of bowler to worry a batsman with the new ball. The most unlucky bowler was R. Sunderland who occasionally troubled Turner with his legspinners. Auckland was soon in trouble when Turner took a brilliant catch in slips to dismiss R. J. Kasper. Wilson proved a reliable batsman and with the Otago attack likely to provide some hostility this morning the tussle should be keen. OTAGO First Innings W. L. Blair c Haworth b Wilson 16 G. M. Turner c Vivian b Hand 113 N. M. Parker c Thorne b Haworth 29 S. J. Hunt std Harlock b Vivian 8 N. McKenzie c Harrock b Hand 69 W. K. Lees b Wilson .. 26 C. R. Dickel c Vivian b Hand 7 L. Anderson b Wilson 3 N. G. Smith b Hand .. 0 J. A. Cushen not out .. 6 C. J. McDonald b Hand .. 18 Extras (byes 11, leg-byes 7) 18 Total 311 Fall of wickets: one for 37, two for 92, three for 112, four for 210. five for 270, six for 279, seven for 286, eight for 287, nine for 287. Bowling.—W. Hand, 23.3, 4, 71, 5; C. Wilson, 20, 7, 47, 3; G. E. Vivian, 14, 1, 61, 1; G. Howarth, 28, 10. 77, 1; R. Sunderland, 11, 1. 37, 0. AUCKLAND First Innings R. J. Kasper c Turner b Cushen 0 A. Panther not out .. 17 C. Wilson not out . .. 21 Extras (no-balls 2) 2 Total (for 1 wicket) 40 Bowling.—C. J. McDonald, 5, 2, 16, 0; J. A. Cushen, 5,0, 21, 1; L. Anderson, 1,1, 0,0; N. G. Smith, 1,0, 1, 0.