Balanced Match At Elmwood

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32117, 13 October 1969, Page 15

Balanced Match At Elmwood

The game - between Old Collegians and ,St Alban* at Elmwood Park was evenly balanced at the end of the first day’s Play. . Winning the toss, the St Albans captain, J. M. Ruston, sent Old Collegians In to bat on a wicket which was showing some signs of the rain earlier in the week. The value of the new covers

was soon evident and apart from the occasional ball playing tricks the Old Collegians batsmen set about compiling the highest score of the day in senior matches. D. S. Banks started the season well with a finely compiled half-century and was not Induced to try to hit the ball in the air to overcome the long grass In the outfield. The Brabin Shield batsman, A. E. R. Morten, provided good support for Banks and together they added 51 runs for the second wicket before Morten was run out. The St Albans bowlers. P. M. Fazakarley and K. J. Ferries, toiled bard to gain a substantial breakthrough but it was the tempting if somewhat inaccurate, J. W. Burtt who succeeded in drawing Banks out of his crease for L. Smith to effect a smart stumping. Later in the Collegians innings R. J. Blakely, playing his first senior irtnings, batted with surprising maturity and had no hesitation in hooking a short ball from G. J. Walker to square leg for six. P. R. Sawtell was unlucky not to notch 50 but he ably demon-

strated the value of playing each bail on its merits and gained half his runs in boundaries, thanks to good timing and placement. With the score at 193 for seven Collegians looked set for a total well in excess of 200, until T. D. Gibson was well caught in the covers by J. Ruston off Ferries. Immediately after the tea break Burtt had Sawtell caught behind and N. F. Curtis clean bowled in successive balls to wind up the innings and leave Burtt sitting on a hat trick. The St Albans Innings commenced at 4.14 p.m. and the - attitude after the dismissal of J. A. Mills with the score at 40 appeared to be one of survival rather than attack. Mills batted well until he played all over a yorker from Gibson. The former international, S. N. McGregor, was the essence of patient batting for 54 minutes to be undefeated on seven at stumps. Much of the credit for the tightness of play in the last hour must go to Curtis, Gibson and M. G. Lester, both of whom maintained good line and length. The fielding of the St Alban’s side, while at no stage outstanding, was well ahead of Collegians. who appeared lethargic and were very slow to move to the ball. Umpires: Messrs F. R. Goodall and W. R. Hobbs. Lower Grade Cricket The only lower grade matches played in the Canterbury Cricket Association’s competitions on Saturday were in the Second A division. Results were:— Christ’s College 201 Oiewton 86, Mathias 49; Kyle 5/20, Macbeth 3/52): Old Collegians 109/5 (Dawson 53). Boys’ High School 93 (Maister 31; Saunders 6/14) and 64/3; High School Old Boys 41 (Bennell 5/14, Hadlee 5/18). West-University 56 (Newton 4/11, Connell 6/26) and 21/4; Riccarton 102 (Murray 42 not out; Phillips 5/43). St Albans 171 (Coffey 53, Fleete 33; Wilson 4/30); Lancaster Park 81/8 (Duckmanton 32; Guerin 3/18, Baker 3/19).

Judge Sworn In.—Mr J. P. Quillam was sworn in at the New Plymouth court-house yesterday as a judge of the Supreme Court. The ceremony was filmed for later screening on television.—(PUL)