Batsmen on top in tenth round of senior cricket

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32531, 15 February 1971, Page 16

Batsmen on top in tenth round of senior cricket

Batsmen prospered, as bowlers and fieldsmen sweltered under sunladen skies in the tenth-round senior cricket matches bn Saturday. Drinks even appeared at some matches.

In two games, at Sydenham Park and Hagley 1, there was no joy for bowlers at all. Sydenham and Lancaster Park between them averaged 52 runs for each wicket that fell; and High School Old Boys and East-Shirley averaged 39.

Significantly, Old Boys earned nine bonus points for their batting, and Sydenham seven, both of which totals exceeded the best this season—six each by West Christ - church-University and East-Shirley.

But there was a less pleasant time for batsmen at Ham, where West-University, the competition leader, which has five men playing for the South Island, struggled against Riccarton.

West-University still seems assured of retaining the title because it is 32 points ahead of the nearest challenger, but Sydenham, Riccarton, Old Boys and St Albans—within four points of each otherhad successful days. Scores:—

H. 5.0.8. 292/8 dec.; EastShiriey 134/3. St Albans 245; Old Collegians 168/9. Sydenham 255/3 dec; Lancaster Park 107/4.

Riccarton 165/9 dec; WestUniversity 90/6. Bonus points so far earned are:—

St Albans 10 (6 batting, 4 bowling), H. 5.0.8. 10 (9 and 1), Sydenham 9 (7 and 2), Old Collegians 7 (2 and 5), East-Shirley 5 (1 and 4), Riccarton 5 (2 and 3), WestUniversity 4 (all bowling), Lancaster Park 1 (bowling). Appearing in only his third senior game of the season, the Old Boys all-rounder, V. A. Bishop, made his first senior century, while his

opening partner, M. J. Mowat made 51 against East-Shirley. Two St Albans batsmen— J. M. Ruston and G. McCawe —made 61 and 58 re-

spectively; and three Sydenham batsmen also made halfcenturies. K. Thomson took his average to nearly 65 with

his 67 not out, I. R. Hartland passed the 50 mark for the third time in four innings, and K. D. Prusas made his first half-century.

Bowlers, obviously, were ■ not nearly as successful, al- : though the St Albans player, i J. W. Burtt, wreaked havoc

with the Old Collegians batting while taking six for 82. Earlier in the same game, T. D. Gibson had taken five for 73.

The only other bowler to take more than three wickets was the East-Shirley captain, A. L. Andrew, who had his best return of four for 84.