CATCHES MISSED

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32797, 23 December 1971, Page 24

CATCHES MISSED

Recovery by Tasmania (N.Z. Press Assn.—Copyright) LAUNCESTON. The Rest of the World XI lost both opening batsmen in the first 20 minutes of its innings when replying to Tasmania’s score of 208 yesterday. F. M. Engineer was the first to go, caught at leg slip for one, and then the young Tasmanian wicket-keeper, P. Gatenby, dived full length to the leg-side to catch Sunil Gavaskar for 7, off the England fast bowler, P. Lever, now coaching in Northern Tasmania.

At the close, with G. S. Sobers 11, and Zahir Abbas 24, the World XI was 51 fot two.

Three missed chances in the slips by Abbas proved costly to the World XI ■when Tasmania batted first. They allowed the Tasmanian batsmen to recover from a dangerous spin attack and make a slow recovery. The Pakistani opening batsman, K. Ibadulla, held the side together with a patient 62 in 193 minutes. B. Palfreyman made 30, K. Badcock 22, and R. Cass 21. Intikhab Alan took three for 72 and Bishen Bedi three for 25. Hawke Cup challenge North Canterbury has selected a team of 13 players for its matches against Ashburton and Christchurch Suburban next week, and for the Hawke Cup challenge a week later. North Canterbury’s programme is: v. Ashburton, December 27, 28; v. Suburban, December 29, 30; v. Taranaki (Hawke Cup), New Plymouth, January 3,4, 5.

Should Taranaki lose the Hawke Cup to Manawatu, North Canterbury will play the new holder on January 6,7, 8. The selectors (Messrs A. F. Wright, D. O. Masefield and J. K. Lay) have chosen the following players:

S. J. Blakely (captain), P. R. Williams, A. F. Rapley, R. C. Merrin, J. Ryan, R. Sowden, R. Newton, P. Rutherford, W. Newton, P. Devlin, C. Heslop, J. Mclntosh, P. Jenkins.