St Albans lets chance slip

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32461, 23 November 1970, Page 18

St Albans lets chance slip

A fine opening partnership ofi 93 between Ruston and Smith > gave St Albans the initiative, but the advantage was not exploited. Ruston, dropped off R. C. Motz before he had scored, was handicapped for a time by a muscle injury, but batted very solidly and attractively. Almost until lunch, however, he played second fiddle to Smith, whose aggregate for the season had been three until given this promotion to opening batsman, J. Whitehead having gone to Wellington. Smith was watchful, but quick to punish anything which could be hit—and the Riccarton bowlers were fairly co-operative for a considerable time. Smith hit several glorious lofted drives off J. W. Kiddey and drove through the covers strongly, too. The runs came very briskly, at a ruD-a-minute rate, but when Smith went, Ruston took charge capably. However, F. M. Madrussan took three quick wickets, from which reverse St Albans failed to recover, the scoring rate falling appreciably. Two batting per-formance-points were won, but Ruston was again denied a century, this time failing seven i runs short Motz had his first over from a; long run, but thereafter bowled from his short one. He had ! some penetrating overs, but is' still lacking the sharpness he would like. Kiddey did not look as dangerous as he often does, and Madrussan wasted his energies with deliveries down the leg side in his first spell. But later he bowled with admirable pace and purpose. Riccarton made dreadfully heavy weather of the St Albans opening bowlers. K. I. Ferries and G. J. Walklin, who were worked very hard by Ruston. Walklin started with 10 overs, Ferries ! with 11.

11 In his first serious work-out for i a month, Ferries showed very : good form, with sharp out- . swing varied with one which i cut back. At one stage, N. M. ■ Parker was 85 minutes in and • on 8; G. T. Barrett batted 63 ’ minutes for his six. So that Ricl carton got nowhere towards bat- • ting points, or the winning of • the match. So far, 23 overs nave i yielded 32 runs from the bat. i Umpires: Messrs F. Holloway • and F. Fielding. Scores were:— ST ALBANS First Innings J. M. Ruston c Isherwood b Kiddey .. 93 L. Smith c and b D’Auvergne 53 J. W. Burtt c Barrett b Madrussan .11 D. 4- Knowles b Madrussan 0 R. D. Kennedy b Madrussan 0 B. D. Lark c Isherwood b Kiddey 3 M. Leach not out ..13 K. L Ferries not out 7 Extras (byes 1, leg-bye 1, no-balls 2) .- ..4 Total for six wkts dec. 184 Bowling.—R. C. Motz, 19, 4, 50, 10; J. W Kiddey, 16, 4, 40, 2; F. M. Madrussan, 11, 3, 44, 3; R. J. MiUer, 11, 1, 37, 0; P. G. i D’Auvergne, 4,1, 9, 1. RICCARTON First Innings : N. M. Parker not out .. 13 , G. R. McAulay c Knowles b Walklin .. ..5 G. T. Barrett b Ferries .. 6 D. W. Stead lbw b Ferries .. 0 B. P. Isherwood not out .. 8 Extras (leg-byes 2, no-balls 6) 8 Total for three wkts .. 40 Bowling.—G. J. Walklin, 10, 2, 18, 1; K. I. Ferries, 11, 7, 13, .2; P. M. Fazakariey, 1,0, 1,0; ij. W. Burtt, 1,1, 0, 0.