Captain’s hand by Bilby

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 34036, 27 December 1975, Page 28

Captain’s hand by Bilby

(Aew Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON.

Grahame Bilby played a real captain’s hand yesterday to rescue Wellington in its Shell series cricket match at the Basin Reserve.

Arriving at the wicket with Wellington in the perilous position of 43 for two wickets against Otago, Bilby saw the total through to 213 before being fourth out.

The 34-year-old’s innings! of 86 laid the foundation that enabled Wellington to reach 302 for nine wickets before the declaration came at 5.27 pun. With opener Graham Newdick, Bilby added 79 valuable runs in 88 minutes for the third wicket before a small crowd. Then, with the Hutt Valley professional coach, Mike Harris, Bilbv was associated in a rollicking fourth-wicket partnership of 91 in 66 minutes before being dismissed. At the day’s close the honours rested firmly with Wellington, because Otago lost two wickets for 31 in 47 minutes batting. The Otago opener. lan Rutherford, and the nightwatchman, Richard Webb, were both out off Ewen Chatfield’s bowling. Still there was the Otago captain, Glenn Turner on 16. The bonus points favoured Wellington six to three. Still keen of eye and swift of foot Bilby’s fighting knock was studded with splendid hooks and pulls. Never a great stylist, Bilby was finally out chasing a ball wide of the off-stump. It was the third time in as many

innings in the series that Bilby had been caught behind the wicket. With Harris, Bilby brought up the Wellington 200 in 225 minutes, the last 50 coming in just 26 minutes. Relaxed A relaxed Harris hit the ball with power and certainty in his 83.

A wristy player, Harris often timed the ball beautifully, racing to his 50 in 79 minutes of 77 balls. Just when it appeared Harris would march on to a century he played a casual cross-bat shot to a ball of full length from Brian McKechnie and was bowled.

Otago’s bowling looked useful enough in the morning session, but once Bilby and Harris cut loose the attack lost its bite.

Operating up-wind for most of the day the mediumpace McKechnie was the pick of the Otago bowlers. Otago fielded well in trying conditions although three catches were dropped. Otago was forced to travel north without its opening bowler, Larry Eckhoff, whose muscle strain had not recovered sufficiently. A newcomer to first-class cricket, Philip Morris replaced Eckhoff, and Don McKechnie was made twelfth man.