Northern now faces battle for survival

Press, 18 February 1986, Page 44

Northern now faces battle for survival

PA Hamilton On a day of twisting fortunes Northern Districts plummeted to a battle for survival against the Australian cricketers at Seddon Park, Hamilton, yesterday. The second day began proudly for Northern Districts, which after some fine first innings batting took the initiative by closing at 167 for two. Australia responded with a brisk 153 for one declared and the odds looked on for an absorbing contest building up for the third and final day. Instead Northern Districts’ second innings sagged to 131 for seven, the main damage being done by the left-arm new ball bowler, Bruce Reid, helped later by Ray Bright’s demonstration of the art of spinning. Australia’s first innings was centred on the solid Geoff Marsh, who was unbeaten on 44 when Allan Border declared the innings.

Marsh carried on comfortably enough and by the end of his 128 minutes stay .should have become thoroughly accustomed to what to the Australians must have been an unusually slow paced pitch. The left-hander, Wayne Phillips, restored as an opener played with the confident ease of a player who does not have too many cares in the world. He stroked the ball strongly for 44, with five boundaries, from 72 balls in 85 minutes and looked good for many more until he was out returning a catch to the mediumpacer, Steve Scott. NORTHERN DISTRICTS First innings L. Crocker b Gilbert . . 30 R. Mawhinney not out . 26 D. White c Zoehrer b Davis 53 B. Blair not out 51 Extras (1b3,.nb4) ... 7 Total (for 2 wkts dec.) 167 Fall: 56, 110. Bowling.—B. Reid 10, 2, 22, 0; S. Davis 13, 3, 38, 1; D. Gilbert 10, 1, 39, 1; R. Bright 11.2, 6, 23, 0; G. Matthews 11,

1, 42, 0. Second innings R. Mawhinney b Reid. . 0 L. Crocker b Bright... 23 D. White c Waugh b Reid 8 B. Blair c Waugh b Bright 46 G. Howarth st Zoehrer b Bright 6 C. Kuggeleijn c Davis b Bright 5 B. Young not out 18 M. Child c Matthews b Bright. .. . ’ 0 S. Scott not out 12 Extras (lb 7 nb6) ... 13 Total (for 7 wkts) 131 Fall: 0, 23, 64, 84, 95, 100, 100. Bowling.—B. Reid 11, 1, 24, 2: S. Davis 5,2, 13, 0; R. Bright 18, 3, 42, 5; D. Gilbert 8,2, 30, 0; S. Waugh 4,2, 11, 0; W. Phillips 1,0, 4, 0. AUSTRALIA Frst innings G. Marsh not out. .... 44 W. Phillips c and b Scott. 44 G. Matthews not out. . . 57 Extras (b 4 Ib4) .... 8 Total (for 1 wkt dec.) 153 Fall: 76. Bowling: M. Carrington 6,1, 18, 0; K. Treiber 5,2, 7,0; S. Scott 11, 3, 45, 1; C. Kuggeleiin 7,1, 41, 0; M. Child 5, 2, 25, 0; B. Blair 1,0, 9, 0.