Howarth stars for Auckland

Press, 7 December 1976, Page 48

Howarth stars for Auckland

PA Auckland No matter what the eventual outcome, the match between Auckland and and New " Zealand under-23 cricket team at Cornwall Park, which already weighs heavily in the local side’s favour, will be remembered for the contribution made by the Auckland captain, Hedley Howarth. The first day belonged to Howarth, as he posted his first first class 50 — his highest score at that level — and yesterday he stole the honours again as he sent the Rothmans XI reeling with bis left-arm spin bowling. In his third over of the day he had G. N. Edwards neatly caught by J. A. Cushen at mid-on for 44. Two hours and 41 minutes later he finished off the innings when J. Ackland was caught by L. W. Stott in the gully for four. Between times Howarth had collected six other, victims and finished the day with eight for 75 off 21 overs to give him his first ever eight-wicket bag, surpassing hig previous best — seven for 43 for New Zealand against Essex in 1969.

Howarth bowled from the start of the day’s proceed-

ings and continued throughout to worry the batsmen. Except for one over, in which R. J. Pither and W. Martin helped themselves to 16 runs, at the cost of Pither’s wicket, he was steady and economical and had the batsmen ever watchful. Howarth was the day’s star, but there was also much to admire in the bowling of J. A. Cushen. In a well-controlled opening spell in the morning session he had the batsmen in all kinds of trouble and repeatedly, beat the bat, especially the left-handed batsmen, who found themselves playing and missing outside the off stump. After adding nine runs tb his overnight score, Edwards was the first to go and he was followed soon after by J. G. Wright, who was out for 33 — also after adding nine to his overnight tally. P. J. Holland lasted 14 minutes before he prodded forward to Howarth and was caught without scoring by J. D. Riley. Two minutes later, after hitting Howarth for a four with the third ball he received, P. E. McEwan too was gone when he went down the pitch, missed the ball and was stumpled by R. A. Dykes.

B. A. Edgar and J. F. Reid added 15 runs for the fifth wicket before Howarth struck again when he had Edgar caught at short backward leg by Stott for 18. C. Kuggeleijn had an all too brief stay when he pushed forward to Howarth’s delivery and G. E. Vivian, at short-forward leg, dived forward to take the catch. For the second time in the match a hat trick was in the offing but the Rothmans captain, Brian McKechnie, ayerted that when he played out a maiden over. The tail-enders, R. J. Pither and W. Martin, joined McKechnie in two brief, but fruitful partnerships which realised 26 and 40 runs and eventually the innings closed at 202 — 72 behind the Auckland first innings total — with McKechnie unbeaten on 26.

Confronted by a barely mediocre attack — Martin, through injury, was unable to take his place in the field — the Auckland opening pair, Riley and G. M. Wallace had few worries as they ran up a 114 run first wicket partnership. T. W. Jarvis too showed some of his better form in scoring 37 before playing over the top a ball from Pither and was bowled.

AUCKLAND First, innings (for 9 decl.) .. 274 Second innings G. M. Wallace b Pither .. 60 J, D. Riley c McEwan b Ackland 60 T. W. Jarvis b Pither .. 37 G. E. Vivian not out .. .. 6 G. J. Jones not out .. .. 10 Extras 8 Total for three vzickets 181 Fall of wickets: One for 114, two for 128, three for 167. Bowling.—B. J. McKechnie, 9, 2, 18, 0; P. E. McEwan, 4,1, 20, 0; R. J. Pither, 19, 5, 47, 2; C. Kuggeleijn, 16, 2, 49, 0; JR. J. Ackland, 10, 1, 39, 1. ROTHMANS XI First innings J. G. Wright c Jones b Cushen .. ,33 G. N. Edwards c Cushen b Howarth .. 44 B. A. Edgar c Stott b Howarth 18 P. J. Holland c Riley b Howarth 0 P. E. McEwan st Dykes b Howarth 4 J. F. Reid lbw b Stott ~ 18 C, Kuggeleijn c Vivian b Howarth 0 B. J. McKechnie not out .. 26 R. J. Pither b Howarth .. 20 W. Martin c Mclntyre b Howarth .30 R. J. Ackland c Stott b Howarth .. .. .. 4 Extras 5 Total 202 Fall of wickets: One for 75, two for 92, three for 98, four for 102, five for 117, six for 117, seven for 125, eight for 151, nine for 191. Bowling.—J. A. Cushen, 17, 3, 63, 1; L. W. Stott, 9,3, 32, 1; J. M. Mclntyre, 3, 1, 13, 0; H. J. Howarth, 21, 3, 75, 8; R. W. Morgan. 3,0, 14, 0.