Canterbury B reeling

Press, 8 January 1980, Page 22

Canterbury B reeling

Canterbury B was reeling at stumps last evening on the first day of its two-day cricket match against the touring Otago B side at Hagley Oval.

On a pitch that, lost its early venom as the day wore on, the Canterbury batsmen foundered against the brisk medium pace of Wayne Martin, and when play finished at 6.30 p.m. Canterbury had lost seven wickets for only 96 runs, sfill 50 behind the Otago first innings total of 146.

Otago batted first on a damp wicket after winning the toss and progressed reasonably against some tight Canterbury bowling to be 92 for three at lunch. Diligence was needed, for the Canterbury spinners — Andrew Nuttal in particular — were turning the ball considerably

making life at-the crease difficult indeed.

After lunch, Nuttal scythed through the 1 Otago batting and finished - with the excellent return of six for 27 from 27 . overs.; Bernie Rule,- Steve Bateman and Warren.Eddington picked up wickets as well. Kevin Collins, who kept wickets , admirably, - shower! he was a capable captain iii the absence of Dave Dempsey, who was called in to-; the Canterbury • A side, at . the week-end. Collins used hi’s bowlers well, and astute field placings made runs hard to come by. Steve Harrop top-scored for Otago with a thoughtful 49. He was - the. only Otago batsman to look at all comfortable against ; the . Canterbury attack; the : others tended to struggle on the turning wicket. . ' '

• Canterbury lost an early Wicket whe ( n the- opener, Justin Boyle, .'.was - dismissed cheaply, but Peter Rattray and Tim Murdoch . put on 40 runs, in god time before Rattray fell to ; Martin. Murdoch .was, brilliantly run out by Martin who 'threw down the.stumps from 50m,’ and the collapse began. .. John Davies went at' 66,. Collin's skied a ball two runs’ later, an'd Bateman and Bob Masefield were quickly bundled out..- .Martin’s excellent bowling was well supported with some ; superb catches, but indifferent shots Were, in a number of , cases, responsible for- the dismissals.

Scores: Otago B, 146 (S. Harrop.49, J. Lindsay 20; Al Nuttal 6/27) met Canterbury B 96/7 (T. Murdoch 28, P. Rattray 22, W. Eddington 20 n.’o;; W. Makin 4/12). .