Canterbury pipped

Press, 29 November 1977, Page 36

Canterbury pipped

PA Dunedin John Lindsay, a burly young farmer from Drummond in Southland, strode from Logan Park in triumph last night after his magnificent, clean hitting brought Otago a sensational win against Canterbury in the New Zealand Rothmans under-23 cricket tournament. Lindsay has immense strength, keen eyesight and an unruffled temperament and he used these attributes to telling effect in piloting Otago to a five-wicket win. The 20-year-old all-roun-der hoisted a full toss outside the leg stump out of the ground for six to score the winning runs from the second-last ball of the match. Otago needed to make 81 runs to win from a maximum of seven overs when it began its second innings in the gloom. Its chances receded with the rapid loss of the three aggressive left-handers, Stuart McCullum, Garth Dawson and Bruce Blair, and desperation measures were required when Lindsay arrived at the crfease. He confessed later he felt Otago had little prospect of making the runs, but he was determined to try. The Canterbury bowling and fielding deteriorated under the onslaught from Lindsay. With 36 runs needed from two overs, Otago’s chances still seemed minimal but lusty sixes from consecutive balls by Lindsay renewed the hopes of hometeam supporters. Eighteen runs was the tar* get when, in growing tension, the Canterbury me-dium-pac’r Les Watson ran in to bowl the last over. Lindsay (20) took two and one from the first two balls, and then Geoff Osborne took a single to give Lindsay the strike. The next four balls ensured that Lindsay’s name

I will be among those mentioned whenever Otago cricketers gather to discuss the events of the past. A gigantic six backward of square: an off-drive for itwo; a straight drive tor two; and then another six. his fourth of the innings and his sixth of the game took Otago past its target. An excited crowd invaded the field to acclaim the Otago hero who had done so much to bring Otago back into contention for the tournament honours. Earlier in the afternoon, it seemed that Central Districts would go into the second round with a lead of 17 points after it humiliated Northern Districts by an innings and 79 runs. Northern Districts was bundled out for 88 and 81, with few of the batsmen showing composure for any length of time against the venomous pace bowling of Brendon Bracewell. The game between Auckland and Wellington meandered to a draw after Auckland had been set the task of making 182 in 72 minutes and the mandatory 15 overs in the last hour. Even Gray, the Wellington left-arm spinner, put the brakes on the scoring rate and claimed the important wickets of Peter Webb, Simon Hoadley and John Reid. For Auckland, it developed into a struggle for survival. Points after the first round are: Central Districts 25, Otago 17, Wellington 5. Auckland and Canterbury 4, Northern Districts 2. Scores. — Canterbury 88 and 190 (Murdoch 66. V. Brown 39; Lindsay 4/46) lost to Otago 198 and 83/5 (Lindsay 42 not out; Eddington 2/30). Central Districts 348/5 declared beat Northern Districts 88 (B. Cooper 34; Bracewell 5/30) and 81 (K. Puna 32 not out; Bracewell 5/25), Wellington 133 and 130/6 declared drew with Auckland 82 and 98/6.