Champion’s helping hand

Press, 15 January 1986, Page 30

Champion’s helping hand

Thorough preparation by the former New Zealand fast-medium bowler, Dayle Hadlee, a coach who demands much from his players, helped the Canterbury women’s cricket team to its eighth consecutive national title recently. While Countrywide Canterbury looked sharp from the first ball of play other teams struggled to. get under way in the Hansells Cup tournament at Hagley Oval. The team could be well proud of its retention of the Cup. Often in the past Canterbury had clearly been the strongest team at the tournament but from ■ last year’s winning combination three brilliant all-rounders had been lost to the province.

Nancy Williams had moved to Wellington and both Sue Rattray and Debbie Hockley had transferred to North Shore, giving the northern side the apparent balance of power. Together with the preparation by Mr Hadlee, the captaincy of Lesley Murdoch was a vital factor in the tournament win. ' Murdoch, a very determined, disciplined comp«i-

tor and astute tactician was able to engender great team spirit and a fighting unity in the side. Both Murdoch and Ann McKenna have played in all eight title wins, Murdoch being the captain seven times. In Sue Brown the team had a magnificent strike bowler. She took 32 wickets, 11 more than her closest rival. Although bowling 35 successive overs at times she conceded only 1.1 runs per over. Catherine Campbell was also very successful with the ball. Her off-spinners collected 14 wickets at 1.36 runs per over. Kirsty Bond had an excellent debut for Canterbury. Her 12 wickets at 1.5 runs per over left her second. in the tournament bowling averages. The opening bowler, Brigit Legg, was always on target Although Delwyn Costello and Rebecca Millichip had fewer opportunities they were also very economical. Lesley Murdoch was in outstanding form with the bat, amassing 335 runs at an average of 55.85, the thirdbest tournament performance.

Her opening partner, Nicky Turner, was in exciting form, striking the ball with authority and averaging 27.13. At number three, McKenna came into the tournament in brilliant club form but did not really “fire” until the last innings. The middle-order of Vicki Burtt, Karen Gunn, Legg, Bond and Deborah Ford did an admirable job, often

going to the crease when quick runs were needed. The top eight batsmen all had averages of over 18. Gunn showed great versatility, being not only tidy behind the stumps but also bowling a few overs. She has been chosen for the New Zealand .team as an all-rounder. The team statistics were:—

BATTING Agg. Ave. Inn. N.O. H.S. L. Murdoch 8 2 96 335 55.83 K. Gunn 6 4 26’ 90 45.00 K. Bond 5 2 40’ 104 34.67 V. Burtt 8 1 83 213 30.43 N, Turner 9 1 58 217 27.13 B. Legg 7 2 41* 119 23.80 A. McKenna 8 1 76 150 21.54 D. Ford 5 1 23 75 18.75 S. Brown 2 2 0 0 — C. Campbell 1 1 1» D. Costello and R. Millichip did not bat. BOWLING 1 — 0. M. R. W. Ave K. Gunn 10 7 4 2 2.00 S. Brown 258.4 127 296 32 9.25 K. Bond 86.4 35 129 . 12 10.75 C. Campbell 168.5 68 231 14 16.50 B. Legg ; 121 53 145 8 18.13 D. Costello 48 18 95 3 31.67 R. Millichip 37 21 26 0 — D. Ford 11 2 19 0 —. N. Turner 3 1 4 0 — A. McKenna 3 0 v 3 0 1