Merrin hero of match

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 34037, 29 December 1975, Page 14

Merrin hero of match

Russell Merrin was the hero for Canterbury B in its drawn representative cricket match against Wellington B at Hagley Oval yesterday.

Though he doubted if he would be able to bowl in Wellington’s second innings, because of a sore leg, Merrin was still given the ball by his captain. Peter Wallace.’ He responded by bowling unchanged for 21 overs — an impressive performance by a fully-fit fast bowler, let alone one nursing an injury.

Then Merrin played a big part in defying the Wellington bowlers who set Canterbury 238 to win in three hours. Wallace and John Calder again gave Canterbury a good start, 51 after their 77 in the first innings, but four wickets fell in quick succession. Merrin stood firm, however, and had na equally defiant partner in Carl Dickel who, although he made his second duck of the match, still resisted the bowling for half an hour.

The Wellington captain, John Greenwood, had a fine all-round match but both teams leaned heavily on a handful of players.

Wellington B 226 (D. Cederwall 62, Greenwood 68; D. W. Bracewell 3/38, R. J. Pither 2/40, W. R. Wilson 2/42. J. GrahamBrowne 1/17, J. G. Larter 1/21) and 170/5 dec. (D. Airey 53 not out, H. Morrison 56; Merrin 3/63, Bracewell 2/62» drew with Canterbury B 159 (Wallace 54, Calder

48, K. I. Collins 21; S. Cater 4/49 G. Lynch 3/39, Greenuood 3/43) and 175/7 (Graham-Browne 58. Wallace 33. Calder 31. Merrin 31 not out; Greenwood 3/31. Cater 2/49i.