Lead shared by five in club cricket

Press, 22 October 1984, Page 13

Lead shared by five in club cricket

Marist, a newcomer to the Trusteebank first grade Canterbury cricket championship, had the satisfaction of sharing the competition lead with four other clubs after the completion of the first round of matches on Saturday.

A conscientious and accomplished innings of 98 by Paul Bateman had much to do with Marist overhauling High School Old Boys in a tussle for first innings ascendancy. ' On the adjoining pitch at Hagley Oval there was an even more determined display by another opening batsman, Ross Calder (Lancaster Park B), as his side denied St Albans the outright victory which had seemed a formality after Park B’s disastrous debut a week earlier. Calder made 101, a considerable improvement on his previous best senior score of 56. The Old Collegians allrounder, Robert Wilson, more than doubled his former top score (63 not out) when he was unbeaten on 136 in forcing Riccarton to accept a first innings loss at Elmwood Park. At Sydenham Park, the home team could not prevent East-Shirley from having a first innings advantage. But most of the late afternoon action occurred at Burnside Park, where Burn-side-West and Lancaster Park A both had outright aspirations in a madcap last over which eventually left Burnside two runs and Park A one wicket short of their respective goals. Batsmen again dominated the individual achievements. In addition to the two centuries and Bateman’s 98, Darin Cusack and Kevin Collins (both BurnsideWest), Ewen Spence (Sydenham) and James Leggat (Old Boys) scored more than 50. Rod Latham, lain Boyle (both Park A) and Mike Dolden (Sydenham) had five-wicket returns.

High School Old Boys 215 and 161/2 lost to Marist 219/9 dec. on the first innings. Lancaster Park A 202 and 174/8 dec. beat Burnside-West 196 and 179/9 on the first innings. St Albans 319/4 dec. beat Lancaster Park B 103 and 184/8 on the first innings. Riccarton 264/9 dec. lost to Old Collegians 270/7 dec. on the first innings. Sydenham 154 and 213/5 dec. lost to East-Shirley 170 and 82/6 on the first innings. Points: East-Shirley, Lan-

caster Park A, Marist, Old Collegians, St Albans five each, Old Boys, Lancaster Park B, Burnside-West, Sydenham, Riccarton one each. HEARTENING START Marist can look towards its first grade future with some confidence after its first innings success against High School Old Boys at Hagley 3. The manner in which it overhauled Old Boys’ quite useful total hardly hinted that it was new to the increased pressures of senior cricket. Marist had its moments of anxiety, but displayed maturity in extricating itself from several difficult situations. There was a little of the luck attributed to the Irish. Old Boys were effectively one player short on Saturday, their most experienced bowler, Dayle Hadlee, having to withdraw because of illness. Paul Bateman, who resumed on 51, was largely responsible for Marist reaching its target. In a thoroughly dedicated display, Bateman stayed until Marist was within three runs of the Old Boys total and it was something of a tragedy that he did not become the club’s first century-scorer at senior level. In all, Bateman batted for 263 minutes, faced 258 deliveries, and hit 12 boundaries. He kept his composure when Mark Ritchie dismissed Warren Eddington and Gary MacDonald with successive balls to have Marist struggling at 153 for seven. At that point Greg Curtain joined Bateman and they performed with such assurance that Marist seemed certain to go to lunch with a useful lead and wickets to spare. But Bateman and Curtain, who had seven boundaries in his 30, were out in the same over and at the break Marist was still two behind with the last pair, Garry Hooper and Jop Werle, together. That was apparently not enough to give Hooper indigestion, thought there was a near hiccup when he skied the second ball after the resumption. It might have been caught; instead, it provided the tying runs, and soon afterwards Marist went ahead when Hooper hit high, hard and straight. ■ Stu Roberts, Flanagan and Ritchie all had effective spells for Old Boys, without being able to wrench much life from an unsympathetic pitch. The Marist bowlers experienced similar problems later as James Leggat, whose second half-century of the game took only 66 minutes, and Peter Rattray completed encouraging doubles. TENACIOUS RESISTANCE

St Albans will long rue the two slip chances which were missed as Ross Calder nervously began an innings which was eventually to see Lancaster Park B through to a position from which it could avoid outright defeat at Hagley 1. Once he had regained his

composure Calder performed with grit and much courage. Apart from the occasional vigorous cut, Calder was full of grim determination as he combated the St Albans bowling and the effects of painful blows to an elbow and the side of his head when facing Les Watson. Calder had as an ally a pitch that very much suited his purpose, and he found able lieutenants in John Alexander, Nick Foster and Wayne Wilson during his stay of nearly five hours. By necessity, Park made painful progress. At one stage there were no boundaries and only 27 runs in 25 overs, and the period between lunch and tea produced a meagre 67 runs. Watson, Andrew Nuttall and Mark Priest toiled away in long bowling spells, their efforts being frustrated by the conditions. Nuttall had a remarkable analysis, even more so before Brian Butler thrashed 10 runs from the last over of the day. There had been nine scoring shots from his previous 180 deliveries. There was brief hope for St Albans when, soon after Calder’s departure, Priest had Howard Chellew and Robbie Foster caught from consecutive balls. But Wilson and Butler survived the last five overs and Trevor Luke, padded up, had cause for relief. It was appropriate that Wilson should be there at the finish, for he had steadfastly held St Albans at bay for more than an hour in the morning when the home team was seeking to quickly end Park’s first innings and enforce the follow-on. LONG BATTLE Old Collegians, so often the Cavaliers of Christchurch cricket, became the Roundheads at Elmwood Park, and won their protracted battle against Riccarton through a firm refusal to tread the primrose path. It was a fascinating struggle, as Old Collegians (60 for two on the first day) set out after Riccarton’s substantial 264 for nine declared. It was clear from the outset that Old Collegians had no fanciful ideas about scoring the runs at breakneck speed, or of declaring while in deficit and inviting a fairground finish. Everything helped give the occasion an almost test-match atmosphere. The pitch was perfect, the Riccarton bowling keen and accurate, the fielding extremely enthusiastic and athletic. Old Collegians took first innings points, but Riccarton can have few regrets about the outcome; it gave a fine performance. The rock on which Riccarton broke was Robert Wilson. During his five previous seasons with Old Collegians, the 37-year-old Wilson has shown much application, determination and skill in fashioning a very good record as an allrounder. His innings was superb, in its control, tactical appreciation and technique.

Stronger perhaps on the offside than on his legs, Wilson simply took charge and ran the whole affair with a detached efficiency. There were times when his management did not look likely to be quite enough. At lunch Old Collegians had reached 137 for four, Graham Rees having batted 133 minutes for 17, a rate of progress, if that is the proper term, dictated largely by the very skilful and accurate leftarm spin bowling of Tony Halligan. Wilson had Jeff Stewart, who played some handsome strokes, with him while 66 were added for the fifth wicket, but the seventh wicket fell at 208, and at tea, with the score 225 and 40 still needed, there were indications of a close finish. But Wilson, more free of stroke than earlier and David Bond, who also played some assertive and fluent shots, were quite untroubled. Wilson, who hit 17 fours, was in for 347 minutes, after reaching his century 63 minutes earlier. Halligan bowled extremely well, and David Stead, mixing spin with medium pace, was very economical. Riccarton was unfortunate that Denis Aberhart could not bowl because of a rib muscle injury. But his absence in the morning allowed the 17-year-old Gerald Barrett to help put pressure on the batsmen with some fine fielding. He is a son of Graham Barrett, who served Riccarton’s seniors with distinction over a period of 21 years. Danny Halligan set a magnificent example in the field, and the rest responded. HIGHT HITS OUT A spirited innings of 32 by the East Shirley all-rounder, Colin Hight, enabled his team to gain a first innings win

against Sydenham "at Sydenham Park.

Hight’s relatively short stay at the batting crease yielded three massive sixes, but, more importantly, he steered East Shirley to a total of 170, 16 runs in front of Sydenham. With the exception of the opener, Kevin Congdon, all the Sydenham batsmen scored freely, during the second innings. Wayne Higgins and Peter Kennedy were both run out, after scoring 28 and 40 respectively, and the captain, Bob Carter, made 41, one run better than his total in the first innings. Further down the order, Bill Thomson compiled 18 and Wayne Pluck was left unbeaten on 18, but it was the innings of 55 from Ewen Spence which probably brought the most satisfaction. The unbeaten score was his highest in two seasons,' and included eight boundaries. Carter’s declaration, of 213 for five wickets, left EastShirley 197 runs to score in the last session, but it was never in the hunt. Stuart Simpson claimed the wickets of the openers, Craig Gibb and Ray Jones, early in the piece, then Mike Dolden dismissed Russell Mawhinney to have East-Shirley struggling at 19 for three. lan Hogg, Keith MdOrfield and Howard Morel then steadied the boat, but it was obvious that in spite of taking the optional 20 overs during the last hour, neither side could obtain an outright result. Dolden, for one, would have rued the decision to bat on, for he broke a finger of his left hand while trying to take a catch which would have put an early end to the innings of Moorfield. MADCAP FINISH Twice in the match at Burnside Park, Burnside-West was strongly placed to secure com-

petition points, but twice the side failed to reach its objective. When Kevin Collins and Chris Marks resumed with splendid purpose in the morning, it seemed that West would have no problems in taking first innings points. The pair carried their partnership to 79, scored in 71 minutes, both falling to good catches by Park’s new wicket-keeper, Brent Glanville, who later distinguished himself with two smart stumpings. But from 193 for six, West was all out for 196, with Rod Latham taking three wickets for no runs in his last four overs. Then still before lunch, there was a delightful innings from Dave Dempsey, who ondrove and square-cut superbly. Dempsey’s 46 came in even time, including six fours. With Stu Gambles, Roy Gearry and Simon Millichip chiming in usefully, Dempsey was able to set West 181 to win in 110 minutes plus 20 overs, the captains agreeing to forgo tea. A partnership of 75 between Darin Cusack and Dave Farrant had West in good heart and at the start of the final 20 overs the score was 104 for three. With 10 overs to go, it was 133 for four — 48 to win. Cusack was bowled early in the eleventh over, having faced 137 balls for a fine 60 which included 10 fours. With five overs remaining, 27 were needed. From there, things went awry. Andrew Hintz batted skilfully in a bright little innings but he was sixth out with the score at 155 and from four overs 25 were required. That was reduced marginally, to 21, when Bruce Irving came to bowl the last over, with the last pair at the wicket. That last over was spun out in more ways than one. Irving started with two wides and two no-balls and with six balls

still remaining, the runs required were 14. After his first bona fide delivery, which was not scored from, the artful Irving slipped in another noball, which Hamish Hudson belted for four, repeating the shot with the next ball.

When the last ball came to be bowled, West needed only three for victory. With fieldsmen ringing the boundary, Tony Farrant squeezed the ball past his pads for a single, bringing a somewhat anti-cli-mactic end to a bizarre over.