Rain stops cricket

Press, 5 January 1979, Page 4

Rain stops cricket

PA Palmerston North Rain thwarted any chance of outright wins in second-round, matches in the Brabin. Cup cricket tournament in Palmerston North yesterday. Both Central and Northern Districts were set targets which could well have been overhauled had heavy rain not fallen just before 5 p.m. and held up play' for 40 minutes. Northern Districts had the easier of the two targets. Playing Otago they needed ,ius» 116 in 17 overs for victory hut were | toiled by some fine medium-pace l bowling from Garry Smith and I Russell Mawhinney. At stumps Northern were struggling at 90 for eight wiih I Otago fieldsmen crowding around. Earlier, Otago had been Dunidled out for 155 and Northern's task would have been easier had] [Otago's tail-end batsmen not [saved it from certain disaster. Central Districts were left the (daunting task of making 215 in 70 minutes (before the rain) and 115 overs in the last hour bi Wellington’s captain. John Reid. Central made a good show of it after losing three earlier wickets but fell 35 runs short! (being 180 for four at stumps. Central District’s first innings was declared 40 minutes before Hunch at 213 for seven. 10 runs j ihead of Wellington’s total of 183 [for nine declared. i Wellington then piled on the

tuns to deciare just before the rain came at 244 for 9, 'caving Central the 215 needed for victory. 3he third match between Auckland and Canterbury ended in a tame draw-. Canterbury were all out fur 182 in reply to Auckland’s 2:38 lor nine declared, with Canterbury’s tall left-hander. Ray Jones, sebrling his second century in as many innings. Auckland was 95 for four in. its second innings when play stopped. Scores:— Auckland 238/9 dec and 95/4 (Crowe 46 not out, Beil 31), Canterbury 182 (Jones 100. Hunt 4/33, Sneddon 3/37). Points: Auckland 8. Canterbury 6. Wellington 183/9 dec. and 244/9 dec. (Nathu 65, Oakley 44, : Barndcn 36. McEwan 30; Grayson j4/74, Jones 2/28). Central Districts 213/7 dec. (Briasco 72. Hodgson 31, Robertson 30, Stoyanoff 2/43) 1 and 180/4 (Guthardt 74 not out, i Hodgson 65: Vogel 2/60). Points: I Centra! 9. Wellington 6. Otago 201 and 155 (Dawson 45, Blakely 26. Boock 22; Fowler 6/59), Northern Districts 241/9 jLeggat 64, Cooper 51. Fowler 44; Mawhinney 4/48» and 90/8 (Fowler 28; Smith 4/38. Mawhinnev 3/42'. s Points: Northern Districts 9. ■ Otago 7. ( Total points to date: Auckland • 29, Canterbury. Central Districts 20, Northern Districts 18. Otago- • 13, Wellingon 10.