Scoring record set by Bruce Edgar for Wellington books

Press, 1 February 1988, Page 19

Scoring record set by Bruce Edgar for Wellington books

From

JOHN COFFEY,

r , in Wellington

Bruce Edgar became the most prolific scorer in Wellington’s first-class cricket history during the second day of the Shell Trophy match against Canterbury at the Basin Reserve on Saturday.

But, having left John Morrison’s previous record well behind, an uncharacteristic error of judgement prevented Edgar from capping the occasion with a century.

The afternoon drinks break interrupted Edgar’s seemingly inevitable completion of what would have been his twentieth first-class century and tenth for his province. Edgar was 98. When play resumed he padded up to Mark Priest’s first ball and had the mortification to watch it spin back and hit his stumps.

That was the former New Zealand opening batsman’s sole blemish in an innings which lasted 281 minutes and 220 deliveries. Edgar, ominously sound and having so much time to select his stroke, had erased Morrison’s mark in a grand manner. Resuming on 14, Edgar drew level with Morri-

son’s career total of 4694 runs by glancing a ball from Andrew Hintz to the boundary. He went ahead with the first of three fours as he took 14 runs off Michael Holding’s first over. Only Bert Sutcliffe (6028 runs for Otago) and Andy Roberts (5533 for Northern Districts) have aggregated more runs for

one province than Edgar’s 4807. Edgar has made rapid progress through the ranks in this, his benefit season. He started in ninth place, but has overtaken Barry Hadlee (Canterbury), Glenn Turner (Otago), John R. Reid (Wellington), Mike Shrimpton (Central Districts), John Parker (Northern Districts) and Morrison.

An enforced change of opening partner did not ruffle Edgar’s composure. Robert Vance, the Wellington captain, was suffering from influenza and Grant Cederwall, a medium-fast bowler and usually among the lowerorder batsmen, was an effective replacement in a first-wicket stand of 64 runs.

The in-form Gavin Larsen repeatedly punished any waywardness of length by the Canterbury bowlers, especially Hintz,

in helping Edgar add 110 runs for the second wicket.

Edgar’s dismissal occurred amid a sudden Wellington batting recession. Just before the fateful stoppage for drinks, Priest had done well to hold a return catch from Tim Ritchie, low to his right. Ritchie left at 211 for three.

In quick time it became 212 for six. Edgar, Ervin McSweeney, who lifted the fourth ball he faced from Priest to David Dempsey at short cover, and Evan Gray — beaten and bowled by David Hartshorn — all went at the same total.

At 218 Fred Beyeler was stumped by Lee Germon off Hartshorn, but lan Ormiston and Jonathon Millmow piloted Wellington past Canterbury’s 220 to a tea-time declaration of 248 for seven.