OTAGO NEEDS 328 TO WIN Canterbury attack faces challenging last day

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33728, 28 December 1974, Page 28

OTAGO NEEDS 328 TO WIN Canterbury attack faces challenging last day

(By

R. T. BRITTENDEN)

Compared with the first day’s play, the cricket at Lancaster Park yesterday was like punting in a placid pool after shooting some turbulent rapids.

It was seldom exciting, always interesting; more of a mental exercise than a clash of armour. At the end of it all, Canterbury held a very strong position.

Otago lost its last six wickets in the morning for 58, to give Canterbury a lead of 117.

Canterbury declared at 210 for six wickets, so Otago needed 328 to win. At close of play seven had been made, without loss.

The task of scoring 321 runs in seven hours is certainly not beyond the capabilities of a determined Otago team. But if the runs are made, it will be a tremendous triumph Uneven bounce The pitch, which has yielded readily to mediumpaced movement throughout the match, has developed a distinctly uneven bounce. Moreover, it will probably take spin today, if it is called in. So far, there have been six overs from slow bowlers to 177 from the others. Otago was ii slow retreat throughout the morning, making little headway against Canterbury’s pace attack, and almost none against Ken Ferries. In his first over of the

morning, Ferries conceded six runs. Then he bowled 59 more balls for three runs, and three wickets.

His was a particularly popular success with Canterbury players and public. There is no more genuine trier, no more devoted team man than Ferries. Meek resistance But sentiment does not bring wickets. Lively movement, either way, and unremitting accuracy did. Apart from Henry Sampson, who was always eager to seize on any morsels from the bowling table, and Graeme Powell, who displayed the virtue of strong, straight hitting, Otago succumbed rather meekly. It took two hours to wring those 58 runs from an eager Canterbury team. Canterbury had its difficulties, in turn. Although 105 runs were made in even time after tea, Canterbury’s 210 too’ 263 minutes — a measure, this, of Otago’s well-organised campaign to apply the brakes, delay the declaration, shorten the final task. It all added up to 265 runs in a seven-hour day — 100 short of the first day’s tally. But it was certainly not through lack of effort that Canterbury could score no faster. ’Keeper’s benefit If Ferries had a wsinging time, so did Ken Wadsworth. He took two more catches, to total five in the innings—the first time such a number has been taken for Canterbury. Warren Lees had a match total of seven, and in midafternoon he was in a position to challenge the New Zealand record of nine for a match held by Robin Schofield. This pattern of behind-the-wicket catches has been well established; of 18 catches taken so far, only one has not been taken by the wicketkeepers or fieldsmen behind the wicket.

One of the sorrier aspects of the Otago innings was the fate suffered by Geoff Murdoch, in his first shield game. He was struck above the ear by a ball from Richard Hadlee which forced him into an untenable hitting position, and left the field. When he came back, he saw a couple of balls bowled before he was run out. Later, he missed a couple of hard chances. But there was compensation in taking the wicket of Bevan Congdon, and clinging to a superb catch to dismiss Brian Hastings.

Peter Coman, unusually subdued by tight bowling and the vagaries of the pitch, was with Murray Parker while 35 were made for the first wicket, in 70 minutes. Coman and Congdon added 39 quite briskly, Congdon and Hastings 54 in even time. More assured Congdon looked more assured this time, and seems to be running into form. Coman batted sensibly and well until he tried to pull an outswinger and skied the ball on the off side. Hastings was in fine form, and a cover-driven 4 off Keith Campbell was a magnificent shot.

It was a little surprising than Cran Bull, not a really swift scorer, should have batted at five, when Canterbury was eager for runs. He had to counter strictly economical bowling and took an hour over his 16. Wadsworth drove agreeably on the rare occasions the ball was far enough up, and at the end Richard Hadlee and Vic Pollard scampered singles to keep the score moving. The only relief from pace came with one over from Gren Alabaster, five from Murdoch, a little man who bowls invitingly-flighted legbreaks. His first over cost 12, but he kept good control after that and his first shield victim was a particularly valuable one — Congdon. All determination There was much to admire m Otago’s effort in the field. The left-hander Graeme Thomson was hard to hit. He pitched a shade short, and even when he dropped his length further, the hook stroke against a left-armer was dangerous to batting life and personal limb.

Graeme Powell was all industry — a very good performance for his side, with his tight and demanding line. Brian McKechnie, with outswing, was good again, and Otago, which often went without slips or gullies to spread run-saving fields, reinforced its determined action by taking some brilliant catches.

Canterbury is in a very good position to head the Plunket Shield table by this evening. But Otago has the batsmen, the spirit, and certainly the time, to make it a very close-run thing.