VICTORIA UNIVERSITY DEFEAT RANGITIKEI B IN EXCITING FINISH

Wanganui Chronicle, 29 December 1947, Page 2

VICTORIA UNIVERSITY DEFEAT RANGITIKEI B IN EXCITING FINISH

MATCH DECIDED IN LAST OVER OF DAY. (0.C.) Marton, Dec. 27. Scoring the winning run off the second-to-last ball of the day, Victoria University College had an exciting win over a Rangitikei eleven ac Marton to-day by five wickets and five runs. When the last ovet was announced University required six runs to win, and 10 came from the over, md the fielding of the home side been better Rangitikei would have forced a draw. Several catches were dropped and wild throwing-in, whicn resulted in numerous overthrows, cost the home side the game. Rangitikei made 196, which represented a great recovery after a bad start and University, at .stumps, had made 201 for five wickets. Highlight of the Varsity innings was the aggressive batting of the captain (T. Larkin) who scored 94, before being given out leg-before-wicket. He hit 12 fours, a five, and a six. His innings however, was not without blemish. He was dropped behind the stumps before reaching double figures and at mid-on soon after passing his half-century. Another feature of the visitors’ innings was the hard-hitting display by R. Woolley, who provided the fireworks to give University victory. With his captain’s dismissal, Woolly preceded to attack the bowling, and in the penultimate over of the day hit two glorious sixers, losing the ball on each • occasion. The match was continued with fresh balls. This was the turning point in an entertaining game. Winning the toss, Larkin sent Rangitikei in to bat, but with seven wickets down for 116 were in a sorry plight. Thanks, however, to two bright and forceful knocks by the North Rangitikei players, R. Hood (Mangaweka) and B. Goldsbury (Utiku) who scored 52 not out and 32 respectively, in an eighth wicket partnership which yielded 78 runs, Rangitikei were able to head their previous day’s effort by three runs, the innings terminating at 196. Hood hit six fours, and he opened his account with a mighty six. Goldsbury hit six fours. Incidentally, Hood was prevailed upon at the last minute to fill a gap in the team as a result of A. Bell being indisposed. Larkin at one stage had four wickets for 15, but his average suffered when the two North Rangitikei batsmen collared the bowling and he finished the day with five for 41. The St. Patrick’s Old Boys’ spinner, D., Knapp, gathered three for 50, but did not unduly trouble the batsmen. Just und'r two and a-half hours were left tor play when University opened their innings, 29 coming from the opening partnership and the second wicket fell without any addition to the score, Hood securing both wickets from l.b.w. decisions. Cornish (44) was the essence of soundness and restraint and with Larkin, added 116 runs for the third wicket when the former retired, being replaced by Knapp. Loose balls received heavy punishment from Larkin, and ha appeared well set for his century when he was given out leg-before, the third successive batsman to suffer this fate. The score was then 169 for four and when Knapp was caught on the boundary by McCarthy without any alteration to the total, Rangitlkei’s chances of a draw, despite costly lapses in the field, appeared imminent. However, Woolly and O'Connor swung the long handle to advantage and the winning runs came from Torrens’ last over. The least expensive bowler was Fullerton-Smith, who bowled without luck, two catches being dropped from his deliveries. Scores:— Rangitikei XI. First Ipnings. R. Parkinson, b Knapp 19 W. Sanders, b Woolley 0 V. Carroll, run out 6 J. Barnes, b Larkin 36 L. McCarthy c Knapp, b Larkin 16 R. Torrens, b Larkin 23 A. D. Fullerton-Smith, 1.b.w., b Larkin ... 0 R. Hood, not out 52 B Goldsbury, c Lewis, b Larkin ... 32 R. Girling, b Knapp 0 R. Fittler, b Knapp 2 Extras (byes 9, leg-byes 2, no balls 1) 12 Total 196 Bowling: R. Woolley 13 overs, 3 maidens. 29 runs, 1 wicket; D. Knapp 12.5, 1, 50, 3; R. O'Connor 4,0, 18, 0; T. Larkin 13, 2, 41, 5; H. Thompson 5,0, 23, 0; B. Phillips 7,1, 22, 0. Victoria University, First Innings. L. Cornish, retired 44 A. Lewis, 1.b.w., b Hood 21 S. Gajadhar, 1.b.w., b Hood ..._ ... 0 T. Larkin, 1.b.w., b Torrens 94 D. Knapp, c McCarthy, b Fuller-ton-Smith —■ 9 R. Woolley, not out 25 R. O’Connor, not out .. 7 Extras (byes 1) 1 Total (for live wickets) 201 Bowling: R. Hood 12 overs, 3 maidens, 48 runs, 2 wickets; R. Torrens 7,2, 43, 1; L. McCarthy 4,2, 16 0; A. D. Fullerton-Smith 11, 3, 37, 1; V. Carroll 2,0, 22, .; R. Girling 3,0, 22, 0; R. Parkinson 2,0, 13, 0.