Smith gets century

Press, 4 December 1978, Page 30

Smith gets century

Sydenham’s cricketers, covered a fair distance in pursuit of the ball while the St Albans opening batsman, Geoff Smith, enjoyed a most propserous week-end at Sydenham Park. Smith, on the first day of the fifth inter-club round on Saturday, mustered 66 runs in gloomy conditions but was dismissed for only five in his second innings late in the afternoon. He more than compensated for that lapse when the same opponents met in an A.N.Z. Bank knock-out fixture on an adjacent pitch yesterday. The be 1 o w-strength Sydenham bowling resources had no counter as Smith plundered his way to a century in just 82min to assure St Albans of a win that was even more comfortable than the .... <- wicket margin would suggest.

Sydenham scored 149, suffering a steady decline after having reached 79 before the loss of its second wicket. There was never any doubt that St Albans would win with plenty of overs to spare, so far ahead of the required run-rate was it throughout its innings. Most interest switched to Smith’s bid to reach his century before the game ended. He had been the dominant

figure in an opening partnership • of 74 with George Nicoll and kept pace with his captain, Henry Sampson, during their short, sharp stand. Assisted by Peter Joyce, whose accurate placements produced the singles which provided Smith with the strike, Smith surged forward by reaping 20 runs from an over by Murray Hartland. Smith’s fifth and final six cleared the fence surrounding Nazareth House and carried his total to 99 and a single made his century. He added only one more run before being stumped while attempting a lofted drive that would have finished the match and. in all probability, would have been a danger to cars parked in Brougham Street. Twelve other boundaries were scored by Smith as St Albans maintained an average of more than seven runs per over. The only respectable bowling analysis by any of the Sydenham players was that of John Larter, who conceded ,13 runs from his six overs. A fine al 1-round performance by Gary Hooper advanced EastShirley to the semi-finals after an absorbing struggle with Suburban at Garrick Park. Hooper claimed three

cheap wickets with his medium-pacers and hit an unbeaten half-century as East-Shirley attained its target with only 11 deliveries left.

It seemed that EastShirley would have no trouble in achieving victory when Alan Albertson and Ray Jones capitalised on some lapses in the field by Suburban to share a 48-run partnership for the first wicket. But East-Shirley then lost three more quick wickets and Suburban’s 141 for nine was given a far more respectable appearance.

However, the Suburban catching remained suspect and Hooper’s strong hitting overcame the efforts of the Suburban attack, which was capably led by Dave McNaughtan. Scores:

St Albans 151/4 (G B. Smith I’ol, G. B. Nicoll 24) beat Sydenham 149 (J. G. Barter 51, G. Brown 25, K. C. Congdon 22; K. I. Ferries 5/27, L. T. Watson 3/29). ; East-Shirley 145/7 (G. J. Hooper 53 not out, A. ; Alber ts on 36; D. McNaughtan 3/23, D. Quested 2/22) beat Suburban 141/9 (R. Wilson 40, B. Harris 24, J. Neilson 22; Hooper 3/13 S. N. S. Tasker 3/31).