Lead to Woolston W.M.C.

Press, 20 November 1989, Page 32

Lead to Woolston W.M.C.

Woolston W.M.C. regained the lead in the Christchurch senior cricket championship, but had a horrendous last few minutes before defeating Marist on the first innings.

A two-point advantage was gained through Riccarton’s defeat by Bumside-West University. It was a day of the underdog. Bumside, High School Old Boys, and Sydenham each had their first win.

Points are: Woolston W.M.C. 31, Riccarton 30, Lancaster Park 21, St Albans and Sydenham 20, Old Collegians 19, Burnside-West and Marist 16 High School Old Boys 13, East-Shirley 5. Results.— St Albans 152 and 222/7* dec. lost to Lancaster Park 190 and 185/7 by three wickets. Old Collegians 254/7 dec. and 141/0 dec. lost to Sydenham 179/3 dec. and 218/6 by four wickets. Burnside-West 301/9 dec. and 94/1 beat Riccarton 118 and 276 by nine wickets. East-Shirley 225 and 206 lost to High School Old Boys 230/4 dec. and 203/2 by eight wickets. Marist 238/8 dec. and 183 lost on the first innings to Woolston W.M.C. 239/6 dec. and 102/9. CLOSE ENCOUNTER Woolston Working Men's Club looked to have an outright win against Marist well within its grasp mid-way through the final afternoon, but in the end was fortunate to avoid the same fate itself. As the wicket crumbled, slow bowlers dominated and Garry MacDonald all but carried off a victory, thwarted only by dedicated defensive play by the last four Woolston batsmen. , The visitors to . Warren

Park had little difficulty in obtaining first-innings points only an hour into the day. Greg Lewis and Peter Kennedy looked quite at home and at that stage the wicket was benign. But the young English leg spinner, Andy Roberts, found hitherto unearthed riddles in the wicket. Keeping consistent line and length, and varying spin and pace, Roberts took eight of the nine wickets to fall and his obvious skill in exploiting the conditions made the batting of David Boyle, MacDonald and Mike Eady even more valuable than a first glance would have suggested.

Woolston was left a relatively comfortable target, but disaster struck early and regularly as the spinning fingers of MacDonald weaved their magic. When Nathu was out at 79 only three wickets remained and 16 overs were still be to be bowled. Grant, James Hadley, Ricky Sparks and . Joe Smith held on. HOT AND COLD Andy Nuttall will want to forget his last over of the day at Ensors Road. It was the penultimate over of the match and it was as devastating for St Albans as it was triumphant for Lancaster Park. Park, running hot then cold in its quest for 185 in 95min and 20 overs, went into the last two overs seven wickets down and needing 19 to win. The numbers eight and nine batsmen, Pierre Flavell and Justin Massie, leapt into action. Flavell slammed 11 off the first four balls from Nuttall, including two fours to start with. Then Massie, who had previously been content to block, joined the party by bludgeoning boundaries from

the last two balls. The entire 19 runs had been produced with an over to spare. Earlier, Park had looked likely to coast to victory. John Gully provided a swift-, start with 30 from 28 balls, but it was the joining forces of Nick Foster and Rod Latham which really had Park on a roll approaching the last 20 overs. But shortly before that point was reached, both were out, and the game changed radically. Park started the last 20 overs at 107 for four; 78 required for victory. With new batsmen in, Nuttall and Priest began to exert their combined spell; 56 were needed from 10 overs, 33 from five. As a little panic ■began to set in, there were two run-outs.

THRILLER Sydenham and Old Col- • legiahs provided the spectators at Elmwood Park with a high-powered drama. Sydenham was asked to score 120 in 20 overs, and in spite of a brisk start, the cause seemed lost. But Paul Hartland, with a faithful Ken Julian, secured victory with two balls to spare. It was intriguing cricket. On a perfect batting wicket, the Old Collegians captain, Richard Leggat, decided on a defensive field, with a fervent hope that Sydenham might declare behind; otherwise, the game would have dawdled after lunch. Darren Murray declared, giving Old Collegians an advantage of 76 runs. Neil Stanley and John Wilson got almost inevitable half-centuries for Sydenham. The greatest excitement was caused by Wilson and Blair Hartland adding 50 in 36 minutes. It was 20 minutes before Old Collegians scored a run

in their second innings, with Richard Petrie exploiting the new ball with lively bounce. But Keith Gardner, with some attractive driving, and Neil Greenwood — surely an acquisition for the club — providing a* mature innings, Old Collegians were able to declare at 3 p.m. This left Sydenham with 4.6 runs an over and, to begin with, it was bright and breezy. After the loss of three wickets, Murray and Petrie added 68-in 50 minutes, and the task rose to about 5.5. But both were out, leaving 23 to be scored‘from the last three overs. Paul Hartland probably decided the issue wheri he hit Wayne Martin straight for six. BRAVE FIGHT Riccarton fought a rear-

guard action against Burn-side-West-University on Hagley One and although there was some stubborn batting and two partnerships over 50, the first-innings deficit of 183 proved too great to overcome. The opener, Robbie Frew, was the sheet anchor of the Riccarton first innings and batted for 40 minutes in the moming to be ninth out. His was the only batting of note in a disappointing total. Riccarton was forced to follow on and an opening stand of 95 from David Stead and Frew raised their side’s hopes and caused Burnside some concern. Together they batted for two hours with Frew playing some nicelytimed shots and the experienced Stead holding a watching brief. A third-wicket partnership by Dean Lund and Jason Kilworth raised 45 but when six wickets fell for 49 Riccarton’s resistance seemed to be at an end. Don Kars and Andrew Cad-

dick, the two medium-fast bowlers, had other ideas and together they made 50 in 37 minutes.

The worries of Bumside were lifted when the Riccarton innings closed at 4.38 p.m., leaving the visitors to score 94 in 23 overs.

Steve Jeffery carried on his fine form from the previous week with 61 not out, giving an aggregate of 199 for the match. His 50 on Saturday was made from 47 balls and included one six and six fours. EASY WIN High School Old Boys cruised to an easy victory against East ChristchurchShirley at Burwood Park on Saturday. Llome Howell carried his score from last week to 113 riot out, before H. 5.0.8. declared, Stu Roberts was outstanding for Old Boys, taking the first four East wickets for less than 10 runs each.

It took a gutsy performance by Nathan Astle to add some respectability to the score.

He batted with style and after 133 minutes reached his first senior century. His innings included 16 fours and two sixes. He was caught by Andy Nicol when his score was 108.

Brendon Murray was the only other East batsman to offer any resistance with 29 runs.

Old Boys were left 202 runs to make for outright victory. Once again it was Howell who showed the way. He and Nicol made an exciting 157run partnership.