Cricket milestones for Canty at Levin match

Press, 29 January 1986, Page 22

Cricket milestones for Canty at Levin match

By

JOHN COFFEY

Though it tended to be overshadowed by New Zealand's massive oneday win at Adelaide, Canterbury’s Shell Trophy encounter with Central Districts at Levin was not without its significant milestones.

Three Canterbury players, Anup Nathu, Sean Tracy and Craig Thiele, will have cause to remember their first appearances at Levin Park Domain with some affection, even if Central was a decisive winner on the

first innings. Nathu’s 153 in Canterbury’s second innings was his highest at first-class level, exceeding the 147 he scored against Otago at Lancaster Park last summer.

Both were achieved in similar circumstances, after Canterbury had been required to followon, and on each occasion Nathu’s dedication staved off the threat of outright defeat.

As well as winning the “man of the match” award at Levin, Nathu

also took his career aggregate past 1000 runs.

Thiele will also have cause to recall the match on two counts. He was promoted from his customary No. 10 position to open the Canterbury second innings with Nathu when there was time for just one over after the enforcement of the follow-on on the second day.

More importantly, though, Thiele’s one wicket in Central’s second innings was his one hundredth in first-class cricket — all of them for Canterbury since his debut in 1980-81. Thiele’s victim was the New Zealand test wicket-keeper, lan Smith.

His, opening bowling

partner, Tracy, achieved career-best figures of five for 19, as Central slumped to 51 for six in an unsuccessful bid to score 104 runs for outright points.

The former Auckland representative’s previous best was five for 29, for New Zealand against D. B. Close’s International XI at Scarborough in 1983. Of a less satisfactory nature, Canterbury’s meagre first innings total of 68 was the lowest by any team against Central Districts. Auckland had reached 74 at Palmerston North in 1952-53. Because it was the first match of first-class status at Levin, Canterbury now has the distinction of having the highest (317) and the lowest (68) totals at the ground. •