Canty led to victory by McEwan

Press, 30 December 1988, Page 34

Canty led to victory by McEwan

From

JOHN COFFEY

in Ashburton

Paul McEwan must surely have earned a bonus from Canterbury cricket officials in recognition of his part in the 27-run Shell Cup defeat of Central Districts at Ashburton Domain yesterday.

A stunning innings of 71 runs from only 52 balls by McEwan took Canterbury out of Central’s run-scor-ing range in a match abbreviated to 38 overs each because of rain in the morning.

leg-side snick into the gloves of the wicketkeeper, Dave Guthardt. McEwan, it must be recorded, was not acting alone in giving Canterbury such a magnificent start. At the other end John Wright was keeping his own tally ticking along as their century partnership was achieved in a mere 57 minutes. But the momentum was lost after McEwan’s departure, as Unwin and the left-arm spinner, Stewart Duff, exploited conditions which suited them. Neither Rod Latham nor Peter Kennedy could exact retribution for Unwin’s dismissal of McEwan, and Wright was fifth out with the total at 137. Wright’s undoing, and his personal score, was a preview of the eventual downfall of his test teammate, Crowe. Another omen of things to come was when Priest and, especially, Andrew Nuttall reaped 17 runs

the required run-rate when Crowe was out, and without the injured Scott Briasco, the weakened batting lineup which followed him was not able to regain a match-winning tempo. Canterbury joins Central, Auckland and Northern with two cup points, behind the outright leader, Wellington (four) and ahead of the holder, Otago, a double loser in the first two rounds. CANTERBURY D. J. Boyle ' c Duff b Robertson 0 J. G. Wright std Guthardt b Duff 49 P. E. McEwan c Guthardt b Unwin 71 R. T. Latham c and b Unwin 3 P. G. Kennedy c Crowe b Unwin 6 M. W. Priest not out ... 16 L. K. Germon c Douglas b O’Dowda 14 C. W. Flanagan c Unwin b O’Dowda 6 R. G. Petrie b Robertson. 0 A. J. Nuttall not out. .. . 12 Extras (lb 3 wl, nb3) ... 7 Total (for 8 wkts) 184 Fall: 0, 102, 114, 125, 133, 152, 161, 163. Bowling.— G. K. Robertson 8, 1, 26, 2 (nbl); G. R. Logan 4,0, 41, 0; T. M. McKenna 3,1, 26, 0 (nbl); K. R. O’Dowda 7,0, 47, 2 (nbl); P. D. Unwin 8,0, 26, 3; S. W. Duff 8,2, 15, 1 (wl). CENTRAL DISTRICTS S. P. Robertson c Flanagan b Roberts 0 C. J. Smith c Roberts b Latham. 17 M. D. Crowe std Germon b Priest 49 M. W. Douglas b Priest. . 18 S. W. Duff c Latham b Priest 20 G. K. Robertson b Flanagan 4 D. J. Guthardt lbw b Flanagan 1 P. D. Unwin not 0ut.... 25 K. R. O’Dowda b Flanagan. 1 T. M. McKenna not out. . 4 Extras (b 3 lb 9, w5, nbl). 18 Total (for 8 wkts) 157 Fall: 1, 70, 76, 114, 117, 124, 125, 131. Bowling.— S. J. Roberts 7,0, 36, 1 (w2, nbl); C. W. Flanagan 8,2, 29, 3 (w2); R. G. Petrie 4, 1, 17, 0; A. J. Nuttall 8,1, 27, 0 (wl); M. W. Priest 8,0, 29, 3; R. T. Latham 3,2, 7, 1.

The McEwan onslaught enabled Canterbury to set Central a task of requiring almost five runs an over on a pitch offering bounce and turn to the slow bowlers.

While Martin Crowe was at bat Central’s mission was far from impossible. But after Crowe had been stumped attempting a big hit at Mark Priest’s first delivery the outcome of the game was never in

dispute. This is McEwan’s benefit season and the Canterbury Cricket Association had granted him $1 from every admission ticket. Both lost out when poor weather early in the day reduced the size of the crowd and delayed the start until 2.20 p.m.

But once the cricket began McEwan was a winner all of the way. He was at the crease from the third ball and stayed only until the fifteenth over, but McEwan wasted not one moment. In three consecutive overs the Central medium-paced bowler, Greg Logan, despaired as McEwan cleared the midwicket boundary. In all, McEwan plundered 34 runs from 18 Logan deliveries. He next turned his thunderous legside strokes upon Terry McKenna’s medium pace, three fours in one over carrying McEwan past his half-century in a swift 34 balls.

from Karl O’Dowda in Canterbury’s final over. Priest, the more effective of the two with the ball on this occasion, and Nuttall were later to extend their successful slow bowling combination in Canterbury’s service. First though, there was to be another repetitive feature. Stephen Robertson was a first-over victim of Central’s innings, just as David Boyle had been when Canterbury batted. And John Smith and Crowe were to follow the lead of Wright and McEwan in mounting an impressive second-wicket stand. Crowe was the aggres-

It was not until Crowe — who had sent Canterbury in first — called up his off-spinner, Paul Unwin, that McEwan’s pace was slowed then his innings ended by a gentle

sor, including seven firmly-struck and sweetlytimed fours in reaching 49 from 52 balls. Smith chimed in with a six. But Central was behind

Umpires: B. L. Aldridge and P. F. Carrick.