Central go on attack

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33736, 8 January 1975, Page 20

Central go on attack

(N.Z. Press Association) WANGANUI.

Fluent batting and snappy fielding, marred only by two dropped catches in the final 15 minutes, has put Central Districts in a strong position against Northern Districts at Cook’s Gardens. Keeping the run-rate clicking over with a succession of excellent partnerships, Central scored 350 in only 379 minutes, in reply to Northern’s first innings of 207. Northern had reduced the deficit to 91 runs at the close, for the loss of Rod Fulton’s wicket off the second to last ball. But, at 52 for one, Northern has a gigantic task ahead of it today to stave off defeat. Central, resuming at 58 for one, lost Roger Pierce’s wicket off the fourth ball of the day without addition to the total, but then slowly gained the initiative With the arrival of Wayne Burtt. Although he and Denis Pay

ton had their moments of fortune —Payton was twice dropped in the slips and Burtt once at backward square leg —they kept the runs moving with an array of elegant strokes. Ten minutes before lunch, Bunt was caught off Alan Hounsell for 63, to end the productive, 119-run partnership, and start what

threatened to be a serious mid-order Central collapse.

After lunch Hounsell sent back David Neal and Payton within the space of two overs, for the addition of only 13 runs, and Central was 198 for five. The captain, lan Snook, then joined Ray Stewart, the former Otago cricket and Rugby representative, who is now a dentist in Levin, They put on 90 runs in even time for the sixth wicket before Snook, seeking quicker runs in the quest of more bonus points, was bowled for 34 by Mike Shrimpton. SEVEN FOR BATTING Lance Cairns, promoted in the batting order, carried Central through to its seventh batting point with a swashbuckling 29 in 33 minutes, including a six and two fours off successive balls from Hira Unka. ' Stewart, in his first long innings for Central, contributed a steady 63. The best Northern bowling figures came from Stimpson, with four for 90 off 15 overs, but it was Hounsell who impressed most with his variation of speed and length.