Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image
Article image

Milburn’s seven-year itch

PA Alexandra Barry Milburn gained recompense for seven years in the first-class cricket wilderness yesterday. In a fairytale return, he scored a century of epic determination to pilot Otago to a handy first innings lead in the Shell Trophy match against Welling-, ton.

Milburn’s remarkable 103 was the backbone of Otago’s innings of 266 for nine wickets when the compulsory declaration was applied. This gave it a, lead of 51 over Wellington, which was dismissed on Saturday afternoon for 215. Wellington had reached 88 for one in its second innings by the close of play last evening and the prospects are-for an absorbing finish today. But long after the outcome of the game is forgot-

ten, this will be remembered as Milburn’s comeback match. For the crowd of about 2000 who watched play at Molyneux -Park in broiling sunshine yesterday, Milburn’s century provided one of the most sentimental and emotional moments in Otago cricket. There have been greater centuries, but none more popular. , The crowd’s prolonged ovation to the modest little Mosgiel butcher was a tribute to a man who waited patiently in the wings for seven seasons while Warren Lees held centre-stage. Milburn batted at No. 10 for Otago in a practice match before the Shell series but he was sent in at No. 5 on Saturday as a nightwatchman, when Richard Hoskin was dismissed just before stumps. Milburn was out in the second last over when he

holed out to mid-on, but he had made his point by then. For a 37-year-old, whose previous best score was 36 not out, it was' an extraordinary display of tenacity. He began tentatively, scoring mainly with dabs, pushes and deflections, but his range of strokes increased as his confidence grew. There was a classic cover drive off Nicholas Meadows, some neat square and .late cuts, and he also worked the ball .away profitably for runs on the leg side.

Otago’s scoring rate was laborious for the most part but it had sevenplayers either new to first-class cricket, or back in the side after absences.

The Otago innings lasted 437 minutes and, if the runs per over rate, of 2.19 .was modest, all but two of the batsmen made worthwhile contributions.

This article text was automatically generated and may include errors. View the full page to see article in its original form.
Permanent link to this item

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19801229.2.156

Bibliographic details

Press, 29 December 1980, Page 26

Word Count
372

Milburn’s seven-year itch Press, 29 December 1980, Page 26

Milburn’s seven-year itch Press, 29 December 1980, Page 26