Cricket youth

Press, 14 March 1978, Page 25

Cricket youth

Linwood High School and Shirley Boys’ High School, the leading teams in the premier grade of the Canterbury Boys’ cricket Association’s competition, were evenly poised at the end of the first day of the final round. Linwood won the toss and put Shirley in. A good scoring rate was maintained, with most batsmen making reasonable contributions. Shirley declared its innings closed at 3.10 p.m., no doubt realising it has to win the match to take the competition. G. Kench, Linwood’s young spinner, returned the best figures and was prominent later in the day, top scoring for his side, and is unbeaten. An outright result looks unlikely however.

In contrast is the match between St Bede’s and Cashmere High School. St Bede’s should win the game early on the second day. On its home wicket St Bede’s made 189. S. McCormick and S. Mackie featured in a good opening partnership of 71 runs. The middle order was routed by B. Wingham, who took eight wickets, but the tail-enders added

quick runs and C. Hamilton made a useful 51. Cashmere lasted 16 overs in its first innings. J. McGuire and S. Smith bowled eight overs, and, backed by sound fielding, dismissed Cashmere for 61 and enforced the followon. Smith and McGuire had six Cashmere wickets in its second innings at stumps, and 85 are still required to make St Bede’s bat again.

D. Farrant made the highest score of the season playing for Burnside High School. After being dropped at nine, he proceeded in comanding fashion to make 159. With M. Neutze he added 92 and with R. Palenski scored 56 for the eighth wicket. Farrant’s driving was particularly good. St Andrew’s batted cautiously for an hour until stumps in its chase to reach Burnside’s total of 243. St Thomas’s batted first at Gamblin’s Road against Xavier College. The top order maintained a consistent scoring rate and at afternoon tea, declared with only three wickets down. D. Boyle built his best innings of the competition (78). C. O’Malley

had a welcome return to form to make 67 not out.

Xavier lost two quick wickets, but R. McKendry and S. Clegg featured in a good partnership of 56. Clegg and R. Withers capitalised on some loose bowling before, stumps to give Xavier a healthy total. Scores were:

Shirley Boys’ High School 189/9 dec. (G. Andrell 29, R. Young 34, G. Cope 25, H. Morel 23, G. Neilson 26 n. 0.; G. Kench 5/52) met Linwood High School 117/4 (R. Winkleman 20, G. Kench 32 n. 0., R. Latham 21; G. Nelson 3/21)

St Bede’s College 189 (S. McCormick 48, S. Mackie 44, C. Hamilton 51; B. Wingham 8/61) met Cashmere High School 61 (J. McGuire 7/24, S. Smith 2/33) and 43/6 (J. McGuire 3/19, S. Smith 3/23).

Burnside High School 243/9 dec. (D. Farrant 159, G. Sidey 3/56) met St Andrew’s College 31/1. St Thomas’s College 217/3 dec. (D. Boyle 78, C. O’Malley 67 n. 0., M. O’Neill 21) met Xavier college 99/3 (S. Clegg 28 n. 0., R. Withers 22n.0., R. McKendry 23).