Canterbury fighting for pride alone

Press, 10 February 1983, Page 30

Canterbury fighting for pride alone

By R. T. BRITTENDEN Northern Districts could finish second in the Shell Trophy cricket competition if it takes the lull 16 points from Canterbury in the last match of the series, which -will start at Lancaster Park today. Canterbury can do no better than finish last, but individual and collective pride may see the side end an unhappy season on a better note. Northern has the spur, of possible success, Canterbury the fear of further defeat to make this a lively match. The pitch, likely to be fast and grassy, suggests there will be no lack of action. Both sides look capable of making the most of whatever assistance is available for seam bowlers. Northern has

four pace bowlers in the 12 who have come south. Leading then is Mark Carrington, who made bis debut at Lancaster Park last season. He took three wickets in Canterbury’s first innings, and they were very valuable ones—Dave Dempsey, Vaughan Brown and Richard Hadlee. Carrington subsequently went to Lord’s as the “Young Player” of the year and before Christmas was in Australia for the brief New Zealand tour. He has no more than 16 wickets in six Shell matches this season, but they have cost only 24 runs each. With Carrington is the leftarm Yugoslav-born Karl Trieber, the seasoned Stephen Scott and a highly interesting newcomer, Craig

Presland, who is only 21. Presland is thought to have a bright future, for he is also a very useful batsman. Supporting these faster men will be Andy Roberts, as accurate this season as ever at a more modest pace, the experienced and successful slow left-hander, Cliff Dickeson, and the slow bowling of David White and Barry Cooper. Lindsay Crocker, Northern’s new opening batsman, has not scored well in recent games, but he has a very high reputation. Cooper has also produced far less than might reasonably be expected of one of his talents, but Roberts and the evergreen John Parker have been full of runs—so far in this series, Roberts 431 at almost

48, Parker 514 at 46.7. Mike Wright, the wicketkeeper, scored his first century and took his season’s tally beyond 400 in the most recent round and Lancaster Park spectators migh well be treated to a sparkling display by White, who has shown outstanding form recently. White will be in England later this year, playing in the Lancashire League. Then there is the accomplished Roger Broughton, who made a century against Central Districts and who so far has scored 306 runs in five matches, at 34. Canterbury’s bowling should be all the better for the inclusion of Dayie Hadlee and Glenn Bateman, although neither has played a match so far this season. Craig Thiele, the strongly-

built opening bowler, came out of the recent Nelson fiasco with credit. His match figures were five for 83 in a high-scoring game. Steve Bateman did not have a good game there, but had bowled with considerable success earlier. The useful pace attack will be supplemented by the spin of Brown, who has 25 wickets so far, David Stead (20) and Richard Leggat, who has bowled only 31 overs, but has three wickets. Canterbury’s bowling has been reasonable. The batting has not. Canterbury players who have been in the side as batsmen, or largely as batsmen, have played 99 innings so far in this Trophy contest. There have been centuries . from Brown and Peter Rattray, but in total, only five

scores of 50 or more. It has been a woeful story of lack of application, of winning chances thrown away. Canterbury has more talent than the sad story of the season would suggest; there is a chance today to finish with a flourish. The teams are.— NORTHERN DISTRICTS: John Parker (captain) Lindsay Crocker, Mike Wright, Roger Broughton, Barry Cooper, Andy Roberts, David White, Craig Presland, Karl Treiber, Mark Carrington, Stephen Scott, Cliff Dickeson (one to be omitted). CANTERBURY: Richard Leggat (captain), David Dempsey, John Gully, Bob Carter, Vaughan Brown, David Stead, Paul McEwan, Peter Rattray, Stephen Bateman, Glenn Bateman, Ash Hart, Craig Thiele, Dayle Hadlee (two to be omitted).