Central recovers

Press, 7 January 1983, Page 22

Central recovers

PA Napier Centuries by lan Smith and Matthew Toynbee were highlights of the Central Districts first innings against Auckland in a Shell Trophy match on Napier's McLean Park yesterday.

A cavalier knock of 145 by the deposed New Zealand wicketkeeper-batsman. Smith, was supported by Toynbee's exact 100 as Central Districts compiled 363 on the first day.

A 220-run sixth-wicket stand between Smith and Toynbee saved Central Districts from a potentially disastrous position at 73 for four at lunch. The situation looked even more bleak for the home side with the loss of Tony Blain’s wicket soon after the break and with the total at only 88.

But then Smith joined 'the steadfast Toynbee and wasted little time in opening a partnership: which ended only six runs short, of a national record for the sixth wicket. That record of 226

was established by Wellington's Evan Gray and Ross Ormiston against Central Districts last season.

The 25-year-old Smith reached 50 in only 38 minutes and off 31 balls and raced past his previous best first-class score of 77 (against Otago in the 1978-79 season). His maiden century came up in even time off 96 balls and included 11 fours and a six.

Smith gave three chances — on 57, 64 and 116 — before offering an easy return catch to Auckland’s most successful bowler. Martin Crowe. His innings included 18 fours and two sixes.

The hard-hitting Smith was particularly harsh on the Auckland spin bowlers, John Bracewell and John Mclntyre. and reached triple figures between lunch and tea.

It was also Toynbee's maiden first-class century and he produced it at a time when Central Districts really

needed it. The 26-year-old Palmerston North" right hander came on the scene with Blain retiring with a bloody nose and Central staggering after the loss of three wickets.

CENTRAL DISTRICTS First innings I. Snook c Hunt b Bracewell. 28 R. Pierce b Tracy 3 S. Briasco c Bracewell b Crowe 8 J. Wiltshire b Crowe 1 A. Blain c Franklin b Bracewell 19 M. Toynbee c Parsons b Crowe 100 I. Smith c and b Crowe. . . 145 D. Aberhart c Parsons b Crowe 1 D. O'Sullivan lbw b Hellaby . 1 G. Robertson not out 32 D. Stirling c Tracy b Bracewell 7 Extras (b 9 lb 4, wl. nb4). 18 Total 363 Fall: 5. 15. 17. 71. 88, 308, 312, 319. 329, 363.

Bowling.— S. Tracv 19. 4. 69, 1: W. Stott 23. 7. 48. 0; M. Crowe 23. 3. 69. 5; T. Hellaby 14. 3, 41. 1; J. Bracewell 29, 3. 81, 3; J. Mclntyre 12. 6. 37. 0.