Miller’s century a feature in a day of upsets

Press, 2 November 1981, Page 31

Miller’s century a feature in a day of upsets

It was a topsy-turvey day of senior cricket for the A.N.Z. Bank championship on Saturday. . , with him in an nnpninp slahn

Burnside-West, the competition leader, had its bowling hammered by Old Boys, and then its own batting collapsed; Lancaster Park, in second place and strongly favoured to retain the title, conceded first innings points to St Albans; Riccarton made the highest score of the season, after struggling for runs in earlier games; and at Elmwood Park the match between East-Shirley and Old Collegians took some dizzy turns before Collegians assumed control. The feature of the day’s play was the century scored’ by Geoff Miller for Riccarton. It was the first of the senior season, and it was Miller’s first: his previous best score was 81, made four seasons ago. A popular player, and a nrighfy hitter, Miller had fflree sixes in his century, cored in only 142 minutes. Scores.— Riccarton 270/6 dec.; Sydenham 85/3. Old Boys 217/3 dec.; Burn-side-West 77/8. St Albans 144 and 2/0; Lancaster Park 117. East-Shirley 176; Old Collegians 153/4. The Old Boys’ opening batsman, Peter Rattray, maintained his excellent form with an innings of 71, which brought his season's tally to 250. His partner, John Bierwirth, made 63 in an opening stand of 140, Duncan Wild of East-Shirley scored a scintillating 66, Peter Stubbings made 63 for Riccarton, and Les Smith 52 for St Albans. Les Watson’s five for 28 did . much to give St Albans its lead, but the day’s best figures went to Vaughan

Brown, who took six for 32 for Old Collegians. His allround form so far has been outstanding — 183 runs at 36.6, and 17 wickets at 11 runs each. Saturday’s bowling success took his senior total beyond 100. Park' trailing The game between last season’s grand finalists, Lancaster Park and St Albans, at Hagley No. 1, was notable for the lack of application of most of the batsmen. After being sent in, St Albans made a good start, and at 84 for two a score in excess of 200 was in prospect. However once Les Smith, was out for an attractive 52, the only resistance came from a defiant John Larter. He produced some typically robust shots and later, as the wickets fell at the other end, some which Would not be found in any coaching manual. The best of the Lancaster Park bowlers was David Trist. His line and length rarely wavered. Trevor Luke, although swinging the ball prodigiously, did not always command the right line. Chasing the relatively modest score of 144, Lancaster Park was quickly in trouble. When Rod Latham was bowled by Les Watson, St Albans found the chink it sought in the Park batting. By 4.30 p.m. Park was precariously placed at. 74 for six. Although the later-order batsmen made a spirited bid to overhaul the St Albans total, the side finished 27 short. Good bowling from

Watson and two superb catches by Paul. Rutledge hastened Park’s downfall. One-way traffic After mounting a firstwicket partnership of 140 and a total of 217 for three declared the High School Old Boys’ fast-medium attack of Richard Hadlee, Gary Saunders, and Geof Hancock rammed home the advantage with accurate and aggressive bowling.

The well-greased pitch at Bam probably influenced Peter Wallace in his decision to send Old Boys in, but although both openers, Peter Rattray and John Bierwirth, had their moments of uncertainty, as the score increased so their confidence grew. Both played some fine attacking shots in front of the wicket, Bierwirth in particular being strong on the drive, and both turned to good account the loose ball. The running between the wickets also was of good quality and consequently a scoring rate of just under a run a minute was maintained. The Burnside bowling was disappointing. There was a preponder-

ance of short balls and no real pressure was put on the batsmen.

Although he captured only one wicket, Hadlee’s figures reflect the spirit and accuracy of his, bowling:— 17 overs for 10 maidens and 15 runs. He bent the bat consistently and had the batsmen playing almost entirely on the back foot. Both Saunders and Hancock gave good support with fine control of line and length and at no stage did the Bumside batsmen play with any confidence. Ups and downs Elmwood Park provides as handsome a setting for cricket as any ground in the city, and on Saturday there were strokes worthy of it as Old Collegians and East-Shir-ley played some good, assertive cricket. There were certainly many times when the ball beat the bat, but there were some magnificent shots from players on both sides during four major partnerships, two for each team.

Ray Jones, fluent and confident. had George Harper

with him in an opening slanu of 48 for East. Then the wickets fell and it was 91 for five when Peter Grigg came in as a sort of lunchwatchman to join the young English professional, Duncan Wild.

Grigg, very adhesive, clung on stubbornly while Wild unleashed a stream of glorious strokes. The lefthander’s elegance in the cover drive was there in full measure. Wild, hitting the ball beautifully, was at 56 in 79 minutes and together the pair added 62. Old Collegians reached -73 before the second wicket stand was broken. Both Roger Fuller and Vaughan Brown hammered the ball vigorously. Fuller drove strongly, and Brown, all confidence, maintained the highly impressive form he has shown all season. But at 82 for four, the lead was in the balance. Then Richard Leggat had Geoff Wright with him as 71 were added in 69 minutes. Leggat scored strongly on the leg side, but made many other good shots and at one stage 10 consecutive scoring shots were fours. Wright did a splendid job in a secondary role. If there were these blazing patches of batting, there was some excellent bowling. Derek Templeton looked strong and assertive in taking thee wickets. Brown’s length was immaculate as he picked up six, there being just enough in the pitch for him to tum the ball demandingly. In the Old Collegians innings, Stephen Booth beat the bat ’ much more often than a return of one wicket might suggest, and Craig Thiele was particularly unlucky. Gary Hooper, a very positive cricketer, picked up two quick wickets and it seemed Old Collegians was in full control. Enjoyment of the cricket was increased by some good catching. Templeton took a particularly good one, and it was a seemingly impossible chance taken by Grant Neilson which ended Brown’s colourful innings. High scoring A punishing partnership of 159 in 118 minutes between Peter Stubbings and Geoff Miller took Riccarton to a hefty total at Sydenham Park. Miller went on to complete a century, in the nick of time before the declaration at tea. It was frenetic batting by Stubbings and Miller. Once they were settled, which was quickly, there was hardly a defensive shot offered. Both batsmen had their feet moving early, so that anything slightly off a length, or slightly misdirected, was punished smartly. Miller brought up his century with a six, his third, over square leg, with two balls to come before tea.

The merry nature of the batting was reflected occasionally in the fielding of Sydenham. Stubbings was dropped three times in successive overs while Miller had a let-off when 'keeper and bowler collided n midpitch, both looking up at a skied bail.

Earlier, David Stead had compiled a cultured 32 but the aggression of Stubbings and Miller quickly overshadowed that, and carried Riccarton out of a minor slump. After tea, a tenacious partnership of 44 in 56 minutes between Bob Carter and Ewan Spence righted Sydenham’s innings after it had tottered a little at the start.

Carter was dropped shortly before stumps, at short" gully off Stead, but other than that he looked assured. Spence, despite some nervous moments, played well in a trying situation. surrounded by a close field.