Crowe carves out 160

Press, 12 January 1987, Page 36

Crowe carves out 160

PA Levin I Wellington made easy ] work of heading off Cen- i tral Districts imposing i first innings total of 308 < for six, which included a i magnificent 160 from i their master batsman, Martin Crowe, in the Shell Trophy cricket match at the Levin Domain yesterday. The Wellington openers, Bruce Edgar and Robert Vance, more than countered Crowe’s scoring on Saturday with an opening partnership of 182. Edgar registered a fine century in 187 minutes off 157 balls, including 13 fours and one six. An indication of his confidence was his lusty drive for four off the last ball before lunch which brought up his century. Andrdw Jones (62) and Tim Ritchie (63) were equally hearty In followups enabling Vance, who scored a captain’s knock of 74, to declare at 318 for three and take first innings points. Vance, after a slow start, played some attractive shots. Ritchie batted in very aggressive style, his total including three sixes off Paul Unwin. None of: the Central District bowlers appeared to ibother the Wellington; bafcmen and

they never appeared likely to stem the run rate. The lack of incisiveness could prove fatal should Wellington get the opportunity, to chase the outright win today. After Vance’s declaration, Central Districts did not appear to want to take up the challenge and after some pedestrian batting was 77 for two at stumps. The home-side lost two wickets yesterday through hesitancy. Tony Blain (24) was run out after failing to respond to John Smith’s call for a quick single, and Smith himself went after a none too decisive shot, caught by Ritchie, off Gray, who seemed very effective on a supposedly unresponsive pitch. Smith took 138 minutes to collate 36 runs. Once again it seems the outcome of the match, as far as Central Districts prospects of taking any points from the match, appear to rest on the assured shoulders of the captain Crowe, who must score a quick counter to ease the threat of an outright loss. Crowe brought up his 1000th run in 11 games for Central Districts when compiling what appeared a match-deciding total on Saturday.

WELLINGTON' First innings B. Edgar c Briasco bUnwin • • 102 R. Vance c Smith b Martin. 74 A. Jones not out. ...... 62 T. Ritchie c Unwin b Briasco 63 J. Coney not out 1 Extras (lbl2, nb3, wl). . . 16 Total (for 3 wkts decl.). . 318 Fall: 182, 188, 307. Bowling: G. Robertson 12, 1, 50, 0 (nbl); D. Stirling 11, 4, 23, 0 (nbl); M. Crowe 4,0, 12, 0; C. Crafar 12, 1, 65, 0 (nbl, wl); W. Martin 13, 2, 41,1; P. Unwin 19, 3, 88,1; F. Briasco 6.4, 0, 27,1. CENTRAL DISTRICTS First innings T. Blain c Allot b Molony 9 J. Smith c Jones b Allot . 7 M. Greatbatch c Gray b Chatfield 50 M. Crowe c Gray b AUot. 160 S. Briasco run out 51 I. Smith not out 15 G. Robertson c Gray b Molony • • 3 D. Stirling not out 22 Extras (b2, lb 6, nbl, w2) . 11 Total (for 6 wkts decL). . 308 Fall: 11, 22, 160, 281, 288. Bowling: P. Allot 23, 4, 86, 2; E. Chatfield 18, 8, 32, 1; D. Molony 12, 1, 31, 2; E. Gray 26, 5, 80, 0; G. Larsen 13, 3, 43, 0; A. Jones 2, 1. 4,0; J. Coney 11, 3, 24, 0. Second innings T. Blain run out. ..... . 24 J. Smith c Ritchie b Gray 36 M. Greatbatch not out. . . 14 M. Crowe not out 1 Extras (lb2) 2 Total (for two wkts) .... 77 Fall: 45, 75. Bowling: P. Allot 5,1, 18, 0; E. Chatfield 7,3, 8,0; D. Molony 6,3, 10, 0; E. Gray 15, 6, 17, 11A- Jones 6,0, 15, 0; J. Coney .T J, 7, 0.