SUB-STANDARD BASIN PITCH Taylor takes toll of former colleagues

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

SUB-STANDARD BASIN PITCH Taylor takes toll of former colleagues

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINCTON.

The New Zealand all-rounder, B. R. Taylor exploited a sub-standard pitch at the Basin Reserve and greatly helped Wellington dismiss his former province, Canterburv, for 81 in their Plunket Shield match yesterday.

Taylor took five for 37 j from 16 overs as Wellington gained a 63-run first-innings lead.

Wellington, boosted by a fighting 82 from J. F. M. Morrison, made 144, and was three without loss in its second innings at stumps. It seemed at one stage to be Wellington, not Canterbury, that was heading for disaster. The Canterbury captain, G. T. Dowling, winning the toss, sent Wellington in to bat on a pitch which produced a great variance in bounce. COSTLY MISSES

The controlled pace bowling of A. R. Hounsell had Wellington reeling at 32 for

side shots. He batted 179 minutes for his 82, hitting 11 fours and scoring his last 32 runs from 27 balls. Only two other Wellington batsmen, Taylor and I. J. Therkleson, reached double figures. Hounsell had the impressive figures of five for. 50 off 13 overs, and D. G. I Trist and D. R. Hadlee each had two wickets. MURRAY INJURED Canterbury began badly, losing Stead to a fine catch by B. A. G. Murray off R. O. Collinge. But in taking the catch Murray split a finger and will only bat if vitally needed. Collinge, celebrating the birth of his first child, took two more early wickets, including that of Dowling, but from there Taylor took over. He bowled B. F. Hastings after Hastings had batted for 54 minutes for three runs, and when Pollard showed resistance, Taylor had him playing on a ball that reared. Pollard, twice dropped [from sharp chances, had the |distinction of hitting the two! | finest shots of the day: twicel he moved down the wicket to straight drive Taylor. But after his dismissal the [ procession continued, and ! any hopes Canterbury had of reaching three figures barely fluttered for the pitch remained difficult. Experts last night predicted that the pitch was unlikely to improve during the match, and that Wellington’s 63-run lead might , prove decisive.

With A. P. Sheahan, he took the score to 168 for two before Sheahan was caught by K. J. O’Keeffe at gully for 61.

five, but two dropped catches, by V. Pollard and D. W. Stead, allowed Morrison: to survive until lunch. Afterwards, in what was probably the most important! success of his cricket career,! Morrison batted superbly,' cutting the pace bowlers and executing some powerful leg-!