Southland keeps Hawke Cup

Press, Volume CXVI, Issue 34072, 9 February 1976, Page 26

Southland keeps Hawke Cup

(N.Z. Press Association

INVERCARGILL.

The well-established heroes in the Hawke jCup cricket arena, Gren j Alabaster and Robert lAnderson, were back to their old tricks again as they led Southland to its 10th consecutive Hawke Cup defence with fine performances with bat and ball at Georgetown during the weekend.

Southland won the match on the first innings, scoring 258 and 200 for four wickets declared, while North Canterbury managed 207 and 143 for seven wickets. It was the veteran offspinner, Alabaster, who has recently returned to the

(cricketing scene, who ensured the first innings lead (when he gained eight North (Canterbury wickets for 89 runs, while Anderson added to his 91 on the first day with an exciting 102 off 93 balls yesterday. ' I The Northern Canterbury first innings went in fits and starts, with Peter Williams and Alan Jenkins giving the side a solid start of 50. However, the middle order collapsed to the spin of Alabaster, and only the former Canterbury representatives, Roger Sowden and Russell Merrin. who both scored commendable half-centuries, stopped the rout.

Scores.—Southland 253 and 200/4 dec. (R. W. Anderson 102, N. R. Thomson 31; R. C. Merrin 2/7) beat North Canterbury 207 (R. J. Sowden 57, Merrin 50: Alabaster 8/89) and 143/7 fSowden 35; R. Hill 2/13 Anderson 3/31).