Record in sight

Press, 19 December 1984, Page 48

Record in sight

Paul Rutledge, of St Albans, has only to maintain his present high strike-rate to markedly improve on the Canterbury first grade inter-club wicket-keeping record of dismissals in a season. Three players who between them have reached a summer’s total of 33 at present share the mark — Kevin Collins, of BurnsideWest Christchurch-Univer-sity, has done just that in each of the last three seasons. Bob Burns (High School Old Boys) first created the record when he caught 13 batsmen and stumped 20 in 1928-29, and another Old Boys ’keeper, Bryan Ritchie, was first to equal it with his 33 catches in 197778. But after only 12 of the 27 playing days scheduled this season Rutledge has already advanced to 23 dismissals, including seven stumpings. He is only four short of his own personal best, and is 10 in front of his closest pursuers, Brent Glanville (Lancaster Park A) and David Bond (Old Collegians). Rutledge’s wicket-keeping skills have not been his only

value to St Albans. As a lower-order batsman he has reached double figures five times in six innings, and with three not outs has averaged 28. The chances of Collins extending his remarkable sequence of record-equalling performances are receding. He began with three catches in the first round, but has managed to add just five more dismissals in subsequent matches.