Wright takes N.D. to final

Press, 14 March 1977, Page 30

Wright takes N.D. to final

PA Whangarei An unbeaten 92 by a 23-year-old left-handed batsman, John Wright, provided the highlight of the Northe r n Districts-Wellington knockout cricket match at Cobham Oval, Whangarei, yesterday. Wright drove and cut with authority, and completely took charge of the situation as he helped Northern Districts, which won by nine wickets, on its way to its second national knockout final. He was later named man of the match.

Wellington had faced extremely tight bowling earlier in the day from 'Richard Collinge, Bob Cunis, Andy Roberts, and Brian Dunning, and worked hard to score 178 for eight wickets in their 35 allotted overs. However, John Morrison,

with a charmed innings of 69, and Brian Cederwall, with a determined 38, batted comfortably. The match started in dramatic fashion when Wellington’s opening batsman, Robert Vance, was dismissed from the second ball. Morrison, however, belted three runs off the first ball he faced, and Bruce Edgar pulled Alan Stimpson for a six at the end of the over. Glenn Turner and Wright started confidently for Northern Districts, and even when Turner was dismissed with the score at 71, the writing was on the wall. John Parker and Wright added 109 runs in their unbeaten second-wicket partnership, and Northern cruised home with three overs to spare. Parker played lovely, crisp, frontfoot drives, and was in excellent- touch throughout to make 48 not out. The veteran batsman, Brian Dunning, was presented with a cheque from the Northern Districts president, Mr Bruce Hosking, for the full proceeds from his benefit match. Mr Hosking read a telegram from one of New Zealand’s great batsmen, Bert Sutcliffe, which was full of praise for Dunning’s efforts for Northern Districts. The match also doubled as a feature fixture on the Northland Cricket Association’s five-day fiftieth jubilee celebration. i