Gibson, Morgan hit centuries

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32494, 2 January 1971, Page 26

Gibson, Morgan hit centuries

(New Zealand Press Association) HAMILTON. The failure of the Northern Districts batsmen and the outstanding success of their Auckland counterparts has put Auckland in a strong position after the second day of the Plunket Shield match yesterday.

In spite of J. G. Gibson’s first shield century. Northern could manage only 238 runs under good conditions after its new captain, B. Dunning, won the toss and elected to bat.

Auckland’s century-maker, R. W. Morgan, cut loose after a century opening partnership by R. E. Redmond and R. M. Harris. Other Auckland batsmen weighed in with solid support, and J. T. Sparling was able to declare at 397 for nine. LOSS OF HORTON

This left Northern 53 minutes of batting in its second innings. After the initial shock of losing M. J. Horton to a miraculous catch at gully by H. J. Howarth from the second over of the innings, bowled by R. I. Baddeley, Northern went through with reasonable security to 23 for one.

With the pitch playing well Auckland could find difficulty forcing an outright win today. Batting at No. 3, Gibson played a mature innings of controlled aggression after Northern’s first-innings openers fell for seven runs. He drove a soaring six over long on off the left-arm spinner, Howarth, and hit 14 fours, many of them with glorious drives on the off-side. USEFUL PARTNERSHIPS His two main assistants were the left-hander, G. V. Giles, who shared a fourthwicket partnership of 55, and the wicket-keeper, L. S. Mountain, who took part in a seventh-wicket stand of 81. R. S. Cunis bowled with his usual control and accuracy for five wickets, while his partner in the new ball attack, Baddeley, picked up four victims to prove the selectors’ judgment right in making him a late addition to the team. The chances of a big Auckland first innings total looked bright by close of play on the first day, when from 14 overs the openers, Redmond and Harris, put on 74 runs with comparative ease. They continued impressively yesterday and set the stage for a splendid century by Morgan, who made his 106 (one

six, 14 fours) in 140 minutes. His second 50 went up in even time. . „ Auckland took eight bonus points and Northern four. NORTHERN DISTRICTS First innings 242 _ Second Innings M. J. Hortdn c Howarth b Baddeley i R. J. McPherson not out .. 4 A. D. G. Roberts not out .. 16 Extras (leg-byes 1, noballs 1) .. . 2 Total (for 1 wicket)~23 Fall of wickets: one for one. Bowling.—Cunis, 5,1, 7,0; Baddeley, 2,1, 5, f; rfowarth, 4,3, 5,0; Vivian, 1,0, 4. 0. AUCKLAND First Innings

R. E. Redmond e Roberts b Horton ..72 R. M. Harris b Dunning .. 60 R. W. Morgan c Foulds b Kennedy 106 M. G. Burgess e Mountain b Dunning 29 G, E. Vivian c Mountain b Dunning .. 7 S. R. Speed lbw b Smith . . 23 J. T. Sparling lbw b McLeod 33 D. O. Neely c Mountain b Smith 6 R. S. Cunis not out .. .. 25 H. J. Howarth b Smith .. 21 R. I. Baddeley not out .. 7 Extras (byes 4, leg-byes 3, no-ball 1) 8 Total (9 wckts dec.) 397 Fall of wickets: one for 111, two for 159, three for 267, four for 271, five for 277, six for 316, seven for 328, eight for 352, nine for 376. Bowling.—B. G. Foulds. 11, 1, 59, 0; J. D. Smith, 27, 1, 105, 3; B. Dunning, 17, 3, 72, 3; M. J. Horton, 23, 5, 10, 1; K. D. Kennedy, 16, 1, 62. 1; J. McLeod, 5,0, 21, 1.