8-point lead to Canterbury

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32803, 31 December 1971, Page 24

8-point lead to Canterbury

A dramatic win by 32 nins with two overs to spare left Auckland with a chance of retaining the Brabin Cup when the second round of matches

ended at Hagley Oval yesterday.

Wellington’s bid to score 237 runs in 210 minutes to beat Auckland failed mainly because the early batsmen refused to take easy singles which might have given the team another 20 runs and lessened the task of later batsmen.

Canterbury has taken an eight-point lead from Auckland, as the only team to gain batting performance points in the four tournament matches so far. Yesterday it had an eight-wicket win over Otago with more than two hours and a half to spare. Points after two rounds are: Canterbury 36, Auckland 28, Otago and Wellington 7. POSITIVE BATTING Resuming the second innings at 36 without loss, the Auckland batsmen went about their task in a most positive way. T. Hill (58) and D. Bygraves (32) took the score to 65 before the first wicket fell and there were five other useful partnerships before the side was able to declare at 234 for five. Hill and D. Walker (52) played several delightful shots, and P. Whitcombe, who was 40 not out, struck some powerful blows, including six fours and a six. ■

Wellington batted steadily until just before tea when it lost its first wicket. The next two batsmen were content to play defensively and it was probably at this stage that Wellington lost any advantage it may have had. The later batsmen had to take too many risks in trying to score runs at the rate of about seven an over. T. Powell (51) and B. Ceder-.

wall (40) featured in a good third - wicket partnership which added 58 runs and took the total to 150, but after these two were separated wickets fell steadily. There was excellent running between the wickets in the Wellington innings but the fielding of the Auckland

side was just as commendable. A. Puna bowled his off spinners intelligently, enticing the batsmen down the pitch, and two of his three wickets were from stumpings. The fast right-armer, W. Martin, was brought back into the attack in the last few

overs and he was successful in taking three wickets to end the Wellington innings. SIMPLE TASK \ Canterbury declared at its overnight total of 258 for nine, giving it a lead of 111 over Otago, and in its second innings Otago never really got going. Only another good| partnership late in the innings saved it from a heavier defeat. D. Watson (18) and P. McCartney (24) put on 48 runs for the eighth wicket, forcing Canterbury to bat again, need-! ing 22 to win after Otago was! all out for 132. The Canterbury off-spinner, D. Bracewell, used a combination of varying length and bowlers’ footmarks to advantage in returning the splendid figures of six for 34 off 18.1 overs. I. Wilson again bowled well early in the innings, taking two wickets.

Canterbury 258/9 dec., and 22/2. Otago 147 and 132 (P. McCartney 24, D. Watson 18; D. Bracewell 6/34, I. Wlsdn 2/13).

Auckland 113 and 234/5 dec. (T. Hill 58, D. Walker 52, D. Bygraves 32, P. Whitcombe 40 not out, R. Unka 28; N. Smith 2/41) Wellington 111 and 205 (T, Powell 51, B. Cederwall 40, A. Hewson 23, C. Jacobsen 20; W. Martin 4/27, A. Puna 3/68).