Two clubs ahead in cricket contest

Press, 18 December 1989, Page 33

Two clubs ahead in cricket contest

Wet weather interfered with the second round of the Trustbank Cup first-grade cricket competition yesterday, but results were achieved in all five matches. Only Burnside-West, the limited overs titleholder, and Riccarton emerged unbeaten after two rounds, both enjoying comfortable victories yesterday over Lancaster Park and Sydenham respectively. The individual highlight of the day was provided by the Woolston Working Men’s Club all-rounder, Greg Lewis, who followed his four wickets for 20 in St Albans’s innings, with an unbeaten 76, to steer his side home with four balls to spare. Lewis formidable The dropping of Greg Olliver in the fortysecond over could have spelt disaster for Woolston Working Men's Club as he was still there at the finish and added a further 34 runs to assist his team, St Albans, to a respectable 180 for 7, which in the gloomy conditions, suggested a winning score. The nucleus of the innings was a formidable partnership of 100 runs between Rhys Cain and Mark Hampton after St Albans’s innings looked in danger of crumbling against a feisty opening attack of Greg Lewis and youngster Jube leremia. Damp approaches to the crease forced Lewis to shorten his run somewhat and’ this produced to greater accuracy with little loss of pace. No batsman appeared comfortable facing him and his figures of four wickets for a meagre 20 runs were thoroughly deserved. Lewis was without doubt “Man of the Match.” As with St Albans, Woolston’s top order fell quickly and only a partnership between him and Anup Nathu of 97 runs kept them in the hunt. Nathu went, forcing the pace, but Lewis carried on serenely and assisted by Russell Grant and Campbell Bruce, saw his side to victory. Brent Holland and Brett Harrison were the most penetrative of the St Albans bowlers. In a canter Riccarton came home an easy winner over Sydenham at the latter’s home ground. Riccarton batted first and made a good start, Jimmy Gilson and Andrew Hughes making 41 runs for the first wicket. Gilson was bowled by Sam Martin with his score at 24, and Hughes succumbed to Darrin Murray when he was on 31. Dean Lund contributed a valuable 34 runs but unfortunately became one of three Riccarton batsmen to be run out. Riccarton was all out for 179, setting Sydenham a modest target for victory. Sydenham found the cold, wet conditions hard to come to terms with and could manage to bat for only 47 of the 50 overs, falling 49 runs short of the Riccarton total. The Sydenham tail enders, Bert Walker and Paul Bulman, equal top scored with 19 runs each. Six of the team scored less than ten. Marist’s match David Bond tried his best to get Old Collegians up against Marist in the gathering gloom at Warren Park, but he was always fighting a losing battle after the visitors had struggled to 57 for four at the halfway stage in their innings. When Bond was sixth out in the thirtynineth over, the side was still 92 runs away from victory and the rain was becoming more than steady. Collegians wisely conceded defeat. Bond’s fighting 46 from 78 balls was one

rare scrap of consolation for the side after it had sent Marist in on a slow pitch. Marist’s creditable total was based on a strong knock of 60, from 103 balls, by Greg Curtain, who opened the innings. When Curtain went for his shots, it was at full power; one of his drives snapped in half the middle stump at the bowler’s end. There were several tight bowling displays, two of them from newcomers to senior cricket. Collegians’ Mark Rountree, promoted from third grade, trundled down his mediumpaced inswingers for a return of two for 30 from his ten over stint while Marist’s Dean Evans picked up a wicket and conceded only 13 runs from seven overs. West in charge The defending Trust Bank Cup champion, Burnside West, brushed aside Lancaster Park at Ensors Road. The game was shortened to 45 overs because of early rain. Burnside batted first and reached 181 for eight, a good score considering the conditions and reduced overs. Grant Dickson was outstanding for Burnside, remaining not out on 61. Park was in early trouble and at one stage was 25 for four before Brian Butler and Mark Chamberlain fought back. Butler played well and was unlucky to be run out on 47. Chamberlain made 29. Rain stopped play for half an hour and when the players returned the last two park wickets fell quickly. Dominant stand An unbroken partnership of 111 runs between Chris Flanagan and Ross Bayliss saw Old Boys comfortable victors over East/ Shirley on Hagley 3. Easts kept the pressure on for much of the game, but Flanagan and Bayliss increased the scoring tempo when the situation demanded it to finish the game with more than three overs in hand. East-Shirley’s innings revolved around Ray Jones. His was the sixth wicket to fall and only 31 runs were added after his departure. Richard Currie and Vance Thompson, relative tyros in senior company, performed mightily for Old Boys, taking three wickets apiece. David Bull scored briskly at the start of Old Boys’ innings but his departure only saw the arrival to the crease of Bayliss who, with Flanagan, dominated the remainder of the proceedings. Tony Gray, with two wickets for 26 runs, was the best of the East-Shirley attack. Short scoreboards.— Marist 193 for nine (G. J. Curtain 60, G. A. Muir 37; R. G. Wilson four for 46) beat Old Collegians 102 for six (D. W. Bond 46). Riccarton 179 (D. A. Lund 34, A. B. Hughes 31; D. J. Murray three for 25) beat Sydenham 130 (R. J. Kilworth four for 31, C. J. O’Malley three for 17). Burnside-West 181 for eight (G. J. Dickson 61 not out, A. B. Sherwood 37) beat Lancaster Park 142 (C. B. Butler 47; S. J. Hawker three for 31). East-Shirley 174 (R. P. Jones 67; R. Currie three for 37, V. Thompson three for 44) lost to Old Boys 176 for four (C. W. Flanagan 58 not out, R. T. Bayliss 47 not out, D. Bull 33). St Albans 180 for seven (R. J. Cain 56, G. M. Olliver 43 not out, M. B. Hampton 33; G. M. Lewis four for 20) lost to Woolston Working Men’s Club 181 for five (Lewis 76 not out, A. Nathu 49).