Confident Crowe rescues batsmen

Press, 17 January 1989, Page 38

Confident Crowe rescues batsmen

PA Auckland Auckland nerves may have been a bit frazzled but in the end it was a solid team performance that took it to a three-wicket win over Canterbury yesterday in their Shell Trophy cricket clash.

Jeff Crowe’s name heads a list of important contributions because, as in the first innings, he rescued his team’s batting from some tight bowling by the Canterbury spinners, Andrew Nuttall and Mark Priest. He scored only 35 runs compared with his 115 of the first innings. But it was the smooth, confident manner in which he scored them that transformed Auckland’s halting search for the 124 runs it needed for victory. When Crowe came to the crease Auckland was 21 for three, after Canterbury had been dismissed in its second innings for 307. He and Trevor Franklin put on 52 runs in an hour with Franklin scoring only 15 of the first 50 runs. Priest trapped him leg before wicket, but Auckland had got out of its faltering stride and taken a good step towards the win. However, it was not just Crowe who can take the credit for Auckland’s win. The Canterbury opener, John Wright, left on a

marvellous 149 not out yesterday, estimated on Sunday that Auckland might struggle to score 150 to win the match on the last day. He was quite right, and Auckland can thank the legs of Bill Fowler and the fingers of John Bracewell and Dipak Pater that it did not have to pass the 150 in the final innings. Fowler took evasive action as the Canterbury wicket-keeper, Lee Germon, swung at a delivery from Patel. The ball ricocheted off Fowler’s legs and carried across the pitch where another close fielder, Martin Pringle, accepted a freakish catch. It was a major blow for Canterbury which had added only two runs to its overnight total of 247 for five. Chris Flanagan got 25 runs in short order before falling to a brilliant catch by Phil Horne, and when Bracewell winkled Nuttall out quickly Wright was forced to change tactics. He began to hit out but Crowe responded by setting a defensive field. Bracewell was in good

form, and in tandem with Patel did the damage, both finishing with eight wickets in the match. For Canterbury Priest took three wickets, but it was Nuttall who impressed most, with an economical performance. Meanwhile, the medium-fast bowler, Stu Gillespie, and the leg spinner, Peter Neutze, return to the Auckland cricket team for their next two matches. Neutze, who has played just one first-class game for Auckland and three for Otago, will replace Fowler in the Shell Trophy match against Central Districts. That match begins in Nelson tomorrow, Gillespie, meanwhile, will replace Fowler in Auckland’s oneday match against Pakistan on Sunday. Fowler will captain the second XI to play Pakistan in its tour opener at New Plymouth tomorrow. CANTERBURY First innings 120 Second innings B. Hartland lbw b Bracewell 22 J. Wright not out 149

D. Boyle c Horne b Bracewell 4 P. McEwan c Fowler b Patel 8 R. Latham c Reid b Fowler 64 M. Priest c Horne b Patel 17 L. Germon c Pringle b Patel 0 C. Flanagan c Horne b Patel 25 A. Nuttall c Pringle b Bracewell 0 S. Roberts c Fowler b Bracewell 8 M. Robinson c Pringle b Bracewell 0 Extras(b4, lb 4, nb2) .... 10 Total 307 Fall: 56, 68, 77, 210, 247, 249, 280, 280, 307. Bowling: W. Watson 14, 2, 47, 0; M. Snedden 8,3, 22, 0; J. Bracewell 50.3, 18, 90, 5; D. Patel 39, 12, 93, 4 (nb2); W. Fowler 15, 3, 47, 1. AUCKLAND First innings 304 Second Innings T. Franklin c Flanagan b Priest 36 P. Horne run out 0 R. Reid b Roberts 1 D. Patel b Priest 3 J. Crowe lbw b Priest3s M. Pringle c McEwan b Nuttall 22 J. Bracewell not out ... . 4 I. Smith c Priest b Nuttall 6 W. Fowler not out 4 Extras (b 4 lbB, nb2).... 14 Total (for 7 wkts) 125 Fall: 0,8, 21, 73, 103, 105, 121. Bowling: S. Roberts 6,1, 14, 1 (nb2); A. Nuttall 29, 14, 40, 2; M. Priest 23, 7, 52, 3; R. Latham 1,0, 7, 0.