salvages draw Northern

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 34037, 29 December 1975, Page 22

salvages draw Northern

tion of being in the right form for New Zealand’s coming test series against India. Northern Districts called the tune throughout a match severely curtailed by rain. After the frustrating first day on Friday, when only a little more than two hours play was possible, rain again reduced the playing time on Saturday when several interruptions through showers saw more than an hour lost. Northern Districts’ second innings, at 123 for nine, closed with 217 minutes to play and set Central Districts a target o f 229. Nt hern led on the first innings by 201 for five declared against 96.

Central’s hopes of achieving the second innings target suffered an early setback

when Dermot Payton was out lbw to Collinge for four when the total was 10.

Hopes were revived, however, when the opening batsman. Graham Edwards, hit cleanly and moved smartly to 30. including 11 from one Collinge over. Edwards was run out after he slipped and fell in the middle of the wicket and had no chance of making his ground. For surviving to a draw, Central owed much to Ray i Hutchinson, who stayed 160 minutes for 43, and Les Downes, who was there 104 minutes for his 10 not out. The Northern Districts second innings was distinguished by another very good innings of 42 by Andy Roberts, continuing his outstanding recent form.