Wellington pair set record

Press, 27 January 1988, Page 26

Wellington pair set record

PA Levin A record fifth wicket part- ’ nership of 341 between the New Zealand discard, Ervin 1 McSweeny, and Gavin Larsen has put Wellington in an ' unassailable position and on , the verge of victory over Central Districts going into 1 today's final day of the Shell Trophy match at the Levin Park Domain. Larsen and McSweeny, the former New Zealand wicketkeeper, came together when Wellington had slumped to be four wickets down for 79 runs on the first day. McSweeny finished his innings at 205 not out and Larsen completed his maiden century (161) before he was out leg before wicket to Duff. The two thrashed the Central Districts bowling, being particularly harsh on the former New Zealand bowler, Derek Stirling, who had 101 runs stripped off 21 overs. The record for the fifth wicket beat the old record of 319 set by Ken Rutherford and Evan Gray at Scarborough in 1986.

McSweeny’s double century — which came off only 245 balls in 288 minutes — was not a chanceless one. He was dropped on Monday while on 43 by the Central Districts captain, lan Snook, and enjoyed three more lives yesterday. His total included a six and 33 fours while Larsen’s 161 included 18 fours and two sixes while he survived when his bails failed to dislodge after he played a ball on to the stumps. The three hundred partnership took 408 balls and 360 minutes and the Wellington 400 came in 376 minutes. McSweeny, whose previous best first class score was 130, became the only eighth. Wellington player to score over 200 and the first since Bruce Murray’s 213 in the 1968-69 season. Wellington declared at 2.50 p.m. at a massive 435 in reply to Central’s 131 to be 304 ahead. Steve Robertson started off well for Central Districts and had reached 40 before being bowled by Evan Gray in his

second ball of the first over after tea. Mark Greatbatch came in and made 47 but the consistent batsman, another New Zealand middle-order prospect went to a great caught and bowled effort by spinner, Evan Gray, who plucked the

ball out of the air just when Greatbatch looked like carrying his team safely through to avoid the precarious position it was at stumps. . Millmow, a future international candidate, responded to captain Robert Vance’s calling and Central Districts was left reeling. Central was 139 for three wickets at the close of play. Central Districts go into the final day, desperate to stay at the crease to avoid a humiliating loss, and anxious also scouring the skies for even the slightest hint of rain as Wellington look set to vent completely its fury of the eight wicket loss to England last week.

WELLINGTON First innings B. Edgar lbw G. Robertson. 28 R. Vance c Smith b Robertson. 12 G. Larsen lbw Duff 161 T. Ritchie c Guthardt b Robertson 0 E. Gray b Walton 9 E. McSweeny not out. . . . 205 S. Maguiness not 0ut.... 10

Extras (IblO) 10 Total (for 5 wkts) 435 Fall: 23, 28, 68, 79, 420. Bowling: G. Robertson 28, 6, 86, 3; S. Gill 19, 1, 80, 0; S. Walton 28, 5, 84, 1; D. Stirling 21. 1, 101, 0; S. Robertson 2,0, 12, 0; S. Duff 12, 1, 45, 1: R. Harden 2,0, 12, 17. CENTRAL DISTRICTS First innings 131 • Second innings S. Robertson b Gray .... 40 J. Smith lbw Millmow ... 27 M. Greatbatch c and b Gray 47 R. Harden not out 15 D. Stirling not out 1 Extras (b2, lb 4, nb2).... 8 Total (for 3 wkts) 138 Fall: 49, 107, 129. Bowling: J. Millmow 8,1, 32, 1; G. Cedarwall 7,3, 18, 0; R. Holland 9,2, 26, 0; S. Maguiness 9,6, 6,0; E. Gray 18, 3, 45, 2; G. Larsen 3,1, 5, 0.