Rain-marred cricket

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33776, 24 February 1975, Page 26

Rain-marred cricket

Rain and bad light restricted play to 175 minutes in the two-day women’s cricket match between Australia and Canterbury at Hagley Oval yesterday and made a draw almost certain. In the time available, Australia crawled to 77 for

three, all the Canterbury bowlers being economical, if lacking somewhat in penetration.

Play did not start until 12.45 p.m. and only 27 minutes were possible before rain drove the players indoors again. When play resumed soon after 3 p.m. the Canterbury captain, Pat Carrick, who had put the tourists in for the second time in three days, immediately brought the New Zealand leg-spinner, Jackie Lord, into the attack, and she had quick success. Lord dismissed the opener, Jackie Potter, and the medium-pacer, Karen Hadlee, seemingly inspired by the news that her husband, Richard, was again bowling at full speed, got rid of Lynn Denholm four minutes later. No more wickets fell in the next 97 minutes, Bev Wilson and Lorraine Hill holding out a great array of Canterbury bowlers and adding 53 valuable runs. Carrick tried six bowlers in a vain attempt to breakthrough, and, surprisingly, Lord was rested for more than an hour after bowling seven overs in her first spell. When she was at last brought on again Lord persuaded Wilson to hit a catch to Ann McKenna with only her fourth ball. She finished with the admirable figures of two for 14 off 13 overs, intelligently varying her flight and pace. McGregor was the best of the other bowlers and she managed to make several balls rear nastily from just short of a length. All the Australian batsmen found her hard to get away: her last five overs were maidens.

Wilson top-scored for the visitors with a fine 41 in 144 minutes; strong on-side play was a feature of her batting. Hill, very aggressive in the one day match, was subdued yesterday and she made only 18 in 125 min-

utes, although she did produce some delightful off-side shots. AUSTRALIA First innings B. Wilson c McKenna b Lord 41 J. Potter c Hadlee b Lord 9 L. Denholm c Alabaster b Hadlee 1 L. Hill not out .. 18 K. Price not out .. 6 Extras (bl, nbl) .. 2 Total for 3 wickets .77 Fall of wickets: 16, 17, 70. Bowling.—K. Gilray, 6,3, 6,0; J. Cawley, 4,3, 4,0; J. Lord, 13, 7, 14, 2; K. Hadlee, 9,5, 9,1; P. Carrick, 8,4, 13, 0; S. Rattray, 5,2. 11, 0; V. McGregor, 9,5, 7, 0; A. McKenna. 5, 1. 11, 0.

Boxing.— The World Boxing Council has disqualified Koichi Wajima, of Japan, as world light middle-weight champion for ignoring instructions to defend his title against the winner of a scheduled bout between Jose Duran, of Spain, and Miguel de Oliveiram, of Brazil, who will now fight for the title.