East-Shirley in control against Old Collegians

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33456, 11 February 1974, Page 15

East-Shirley in control against Old Collegians

Senior club cricket produced several notable events on Saturday. East-Shirlev took control of its match with its co-leader, Old Collegians; C. R. W. Dickel and C. M. Kirk, striving for a place in Canterbury’s team to play the Australians, both returned tme figures, and B. G. Hadlee scored 155, his personal and the season’s best score.

But in the soaring afternoon temperatures, there were other remarkable sights. It was one of the very rare occasions when drinks have been brought on to the field in club ! matches, and never before i had there been so many ’ groups of players round 1 the hose points, like ani- < mals at oases. i It should have been a day i for batsmen, but the scoring ' was not particularly heavy ! apart from that of High i School Old Boys, who made 1 282 for four wickets against ‘ St Albans. Hadlee, at his ! century in three hours, i maintained a spectacular run 1 of scores: in his last four i club innings he has made ’ 111 not out, 95, 84, and 155. 1 East-Shirley owed its ■ strong position largely to 1 the bowling of Dickel, who , also had a personal best re- , turn, seven for 26. Kirk took 1 five wickets for Burnside- 1 West, and B. C. Irving also , captured five, for Lancaster i Park. i Batting for Sydenham, K. ! Thomson made 91, W. i Thomson 51, and their bat- 1 ting — with the bowling of , D. L. Gallop — must have .• given East further comfort, 1 for Lancaster Park is a close ' third to the leaders. Other good scores were 66 by i G. V. D. PuUey. 78 not out by I 1 i J. Stevens and 50 from J.it Lindsay. >; Scores:— ■ * Old Boys 282/4 dee., St Al- j bans 47/0. i 5 s Riccarton 176, Burnside-West j 146/7. s t

East-Shirley 233/7 dec.. Old Collegians 129/9. Sydenham 258/7 dec., Lancaster Park 101/6. DICKEL IN CHARGE The loss of six wickets for 26 runs, some fine bowling by C. R. W. Dickel, and splendid fielding by East-Shirley. That was the story of the demise of Old Collegians at Burwood Park. After winning the toss and sending East in to bat Old . Collegians had the home side in early trouble. P. G. Coman was out second ball and P. R. Joyce was soon back in the pavilion. J. W. Grocott, after a shaky start, rallied the side. G. D. V. Pulley and N. T. Image ground the Old Collegians bowling to a standstill in the intense heat after lunch; they picked up runs with ease, and Pulley, with eight fours and a six, top scored ior the day. K. R. Hawker had a spirited bid at the end of the innings with 40 runs in 49. minutes. A. Ormond, in his first senior game, was the most successful bowler, although J. H. M. Dawson performed creditably in the heat. Old Collegians started well, putting on 103 for the first three wickets, but then Dickel took the ball, and in a spell of eight overs, took seven wickets for 26 runs. He was aided by some excellent fielding, particularly from Hawker, who took three catches, and R. J. Harding, who i took a splendid catch behind square to dismiss the pick of the Old Collegians batsmen, D. S. Banks. With Old Collegians four runs behind the follow-on mark at stumps and one wieket in hand, they face an uphill struggle next week. RIGHT DECISION W. Thomson’s decision to bat paid off at Sydenham Park, for Hie pitch played easily for much of the day and then developed an uneven bounce and some turn. Sydenham was given a fine start by the aggressive W. Thomson, who scored 49 of the first 50 with some well-hit blows forward of the wicket. There was then a minor collapse, but S. Simpson joined K. Thomson to begin a stand of 88. Thomsen batted with authority, timing his shots well, and one cover-drive off the bowling of B. C. Irving was a memorable stroke. His 91 was scored in 148 minutes and included two sixes and 12 fours. Simpson batted capably, and P. E. McKenzie took toll of the tired bowling to score his runs in even time. Bowling on fire placid pitch, Irving flighted the ball well, and deserved his five wickets. Lancaster Park’s batting crumbled against an accurate attack. Injudicious shots at the end of a long, hot day perhaps contributed to the failure. A. M. McKendry batted soundly in a long, patient innings. D. 1,. Gallop bowled his legspinners accurately and well, and fully deserved his figures of four for 36. ANXIOUS START High School Old Boys’ batting prosperity was achieved after an anxious first hour when the

swing and cut of the energetic K. 1. Ferries was a very potent threat. Ferries, who began with a spell of 11 overs in trying heat, caused all the batsmen concern, but as the edge left e his bowling, Old Bovs took con- ” trol. Hadlee soon assumed a confi- ’ dent, capable look, and as his , ! innings developed he used a wide 1 , range of well-timed strokes, find1'

ing gaps with drives each side of the wicket, and with firm cuts. It was a delightful displav. With him in a stand of 186 was Stevens, who also drove particularly well. Stevens was in extremely good form until he had to retire for a time, with cramp jin both hands. On his return he was not in such good touch, land the Old Boys innings dragged ;on without particular profit. K. C. Burtt, a leg-spinner ' fresh from school and in his i first senior game, started with ' a good over to Hadlee. There--1 after slight inaccuracies were expensive, but he looks an Inter- ! esting prospect. • St Albans started solidly. L. A. Smith was forced into unusual -restraint, but P. D. Johnston, another playing Ins first championi ship game, made an impressive I start. REGULAR ERRORS ; Most of Riccarton’s batsmen i survived long enough to suggest [that good scores were on the ! way, but they succumbed regularly to the earnest medium-pace lof G. R. Sherlock and the spin lof Kirk. P. G. D’Auvergne hit J some fine attacking shots and L. • iD. Thorn batted very usefully, I but on a pitch which posed fen ; problems, it was a disappointing II total of 176. , Vigorous batting by Lindsay [was the highlight of the Burni side-West batting. He struck the [[ball confidently and well, but [again wickets fell inexplicably. . However, towards the end B. [! Thomas, yet another making his : debut, gave notice of a success;’ful senior career with a studied but never dull display. D, C. [I Saunders went to 18 in 15 minutes, but Riccarton ended ■ the day with a slight advantage.