Canterbury Sharing Under 23 Cricket Lead

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32219, 11 February 1970, Page 15

Canterbury Sharing Under 23 Cricket Lead

The Press" Special Service

HASTINGS.

Canterbury’s hopes for an outright win were dashed by the weather and the determination of the Central Districts batsmen when the first round of the Rothmans under 23 national cricket tournament ended yesterday.

However, a comfortable win on the first innings by 87 runs earned Canterbury five points, to share the lead with Wellington, which gained a first-innings win ! over Auckland. Canterbury, 35 for no wic-! ket overnight, chased runs ini the morning in the hope of an early declaration. However, when the openers. J Christiansen and R. Fulton, went for 44 and 33. respectively, the remainder of the batsmen were unable to get on top of some very steady (bowling, spearheaded by T f Beatson (five for 72) and R I Hunter (four for 46), which; forced the side to declare al 174 for nine at lunch Brisk Rate Of Scoring W. Bell (20), R. Geary (19) land G Pulley (14) all showed i aggression despite the accuracy and control of the Central bowlers and kept the score moving at a much brisker rate than in the other two matches

Central, 87 runs behind, put up a much improved showing to reach 93 for one before rain and bad light ended play at 5 p.m. C. Atkinson (35) and D Green (36 not out) steered Central through the difficult early afternoon, and A. Hounsell, who took five for 26 on the first day, had to be satisfied with only one wicket for 31 yesterday Belated Recovery

Auckland, chasing Wellington's first-innings total of 194, was all out an hour before stumps, Still 58 runs behind. The top-order Auckland batsmen failed in the morning, the fast bowler W. Greenstreet, and then the spinners, G. Murhpy, L. Steel and J. Morrison, pegging the batsmen down Wickets fell steadily until L. Sewell arrived at the wicket with the score at 66 for seven. He attacked the spinners. hitting at every opportunity. and his 50 came up in 75 minutes. But when play resumed after an extended tea break because of rain, he went to the fifth ball of the first over for 59

Resuming at 203 for six. Otago quickly crashed to 214 all out to the bowling of R. McGill and A. Roberts, against Northern Districts. McGill finished with the outstanding figures of seven for 27 from 16 overs, five of which were maidens.

W. Blair (Otago), 97 not out overnight, stayed long enough to reach his century. He hit 14 fours and two sixes. Northern batted through nine stoppages for rain, to reach 143 for five. A. Roberts, was most impressive, his 56 not out including eight boundaries. The match was abandoned as a draw and each side gained three points.

Points after the first round are: Canterbury and Wellington 5, Otago and Northern 3, Central and Auckland 1. Scores: CENTRAL DISTRICTS First Innings .. 87 Second Innings jP. Winfield not out 17 C. Atkinson b Hounwll 35 D. Green not out 36 i Extras .. 5 Total for one wicket 93 Fall of wicket: One for 40. Bowling: Hounsell, 6, 1. 31, 1: Pulley 2, 0. 10. 0: Calder. 10. I, 29. 0: D’Auvergne, 5,4, 7,0; Stead. 2,1, 4. 0: Fulton, 4. 1, 3. 0; Baker, 4,2. 4. 0. CANTERBURY First Innings J. Christiansen c Murley b I Beatson 44 R. Fulton c Sampson b Hunter 33

D. Stead c Cox b Beatson 1 R. Geary b Hunter 19' K. Baker b Hunter 12l W. Bell b Beatson 20 j A. Hounsell b Beatson .. 0 G. Pulley b Hunter 14 J. Calder st Wadsworth b Beatson 12 P. D Auvergne not out 11 J. Jackson, not out 1 Extras 7 Total for 9 wkts dec. 174 Fall of wickets: One for 77. two for 80. three for 94, four 'for 104, five for 133. six for 133. ! seven for 150, eight for 151. nine for 166. Bowling: R. Cox. 5. 1, 14. 0, W. Coventry, 2. 0. 11. 0; L. Stewart, 1. 0. 8. 0-. T. Beatson. 18, 5, 72, 5; H. Sampson. 5,2, 16. 0: R. Hunter. 13. 2. 46. 4. • Otago 214 < W Blair 103, G. Turner 48; R. McGill 7/27. a Roberts 3/65*. Northern 143/5 Roberts 56 not out. J. G Gibson {3l: G. Powell 4/49). Wellington 194. Auckland 136 (L. Sewell 59. W. Greenstreet .3/15).

Sheffield Shield.— Victoria 254 for eight and ISO for four (J.I Scoles 73 not out, A. Sieler 40.; R. Cowper 28 not out) beat iSouth Australia. 248 and 185.1 'by six wickets.