N.Z. team settles for draw after hard chase for runs

Press, 31 March 1980, Page 34

N.Z. team settles for draw after hard chase for runs

PA Auckland Even volleys of sixes and fours, and all the will in the world, could not contrive an outright decision in the Young New Zealanders’ cricket match against the Derrick Robins’ XI at Eden Park yesterday. By mid-afternoon Young New Zealand was left with a chase for 225 runs at about five an over, but even after some splendid hitting by lan Rutherford (75) and Bruce Blair (45), had to settle for a draw at 160 for six.

Still, as draws go, it was one of the better ones, and a feather in the cap of the Young New Zealanders who played well enough to suggest that in-future such short tours, either at home or

abroad, are of considerable value in moulding the New Zealand strength slightly below test level. And there was the romance of two of the New Zealanders, Martin Snedden, the seamer, and lan Smith, the wicket-keeper, either improving or confirming their places in the New Zealand team that was named yesterday afternoon.

Snedden played his way in superbly. After his splendid bowling on Friday he eagerly grasped the chance of being nightwatchman. By the middle of Saturday afternoon he had been promoted almost to general manager for he had put together 69 runs in a shade over three hours of very diligent batting.

ROBINS’ XI First innings 223 Second innings K. Sharp c Rutherford b Gillespie 82 C. XV. Athey b Snedden .. 116 R. G. Williams c Smith b Gillespie .15 D. N. Patel c Smith b Gillespie .. 54 C. S. Cowdrey not out .. 9 Extras (b 3 lb!2. nb9) .. 24 Total (1 wckt dec.) 300 Fall: 173, 201, 290. 300. Bowling.—M. C. Snedden, 17, 2, 73, 1; G. J. Robertson, 7,1, 49, 0; V. R. Brown, 7,3, 16. 0; S. R. Gillespie, 24.5, 2. 107, 3; M. D. Crowe-, 14, 3, 31, 0. YOUNG NEW ZEALAND First innings I. A. Rutherford c Richards b Merry .. .. 12 M. D. Crowe lbw b Pigott .. 47 M. C. Snedden c Sharp b Patel 69 M. H. Toynbee c Pigott b Merry 20 P. N. Webb c Sharp b Cook 2 B. R. Blair c Athey b Patel 0 A. Jones not out 43 V. R. Brown c Athey b Cook 0

I. D. Smith c Williams b Cowdrey .. -. .. 72 S. R. Gillespie not out .. 17 Extras (bB, lb 7, nb4) ... 19 Total (8 wckts dec.) 301 Fall: 18. 90, 156, 157, 157, 159, 163, 276. Bowling.—W. C. Merry, 36, 9, 92. 2; A. C. Pigott, 18, 3, 51, 1; N. G. Cook, 18, 8, 37, 2; C. XV. Athey, 9,1, 33, 0; K. J. Barnett, 5. 0, 16, 0; R. G. Williams, 1. 0. 1. 0; D. N. Patel, 10. 4, 29, 2; C. S. Cowdrey, 30, 0, 23, 1. Second innings Rutherford c Cowdrey b Cook .. :. 75 Crowe lbw b Merry .. 8 Toynbee c Richards b Merry 0 Blair c Patel b Barnett .. 45 Smith c Patel b Cook .. 0 Gillespie run out .. .. Il Webb not out .. .. .. 13 Jones not out .. .. 4 Extras (bl, lb2, nbl) .. 4 Total (for 6 wickets) 160 Fall: 15. 23, 106, 108; 127. Bowling.—Merry, 8. 3, 15, 2; Pigott, 4. 0,2, 0; Barnett. 19, 4. 70, 1; Patel, 6. 1, 29, 0; Cook, 10. 4, 22, 2. ,