LAST CRICKET GAME DRAWN

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28259, 23 April 1957, Page 12

LAST CRICKET GAME DRAWN

Canterbury Wins Contest '‘The Press" Special Service DUNEDIN, April 22. The strong Canterbury University College team won the cricket section of the University Easter tournament today. It drew with Victoria today and beat Otago on the first innings last week. Victoria declared late in the afternoon and gave Canterbury no chance of heading its 222 for six wickets declared. Canterbury had scored 127 for two wickets when play was abandoned because of bad light at 5.10 p.m. The pitch was soft and slow after heavy rain last week, but overhead conditions were excellent. H. Carver continued from his overnight score of 22 until he was bowled by the off-spinner, Park, for 59. He was the backbone of the Victoria innings. Aggressive J. McDonald hit 46 before the innings was closed. The leg-spinner, G. Alabaster, completed a marathon bowling performance with four of the five wickets which fell to bowlers to his credit. He was accurate, varied his deliveries well, but obtained little assistance from the pitch. Four wickets for 78 runs from 41 overs was a fine analysis under the conditions. Park was equally as accurate, but was not as dangerous as Alabaster. He took one wicket for 71 runs from 44 overs. Canterbury showed that it was the strongest batting team at the tournament by scoring 127 for two wickets before close of play. The opening pair, R. F. Hunter and A. I. Axford. were assured in compiling the best opening partnership of the week. Both made 47 and impressed with their strokemaking, particularly Axford, a left-hander, who was severe on any short deliveries. Alabaster and G. Leggat attempted to force the pace late in the afternoon, but there was no chance of overtaking Victoria’s total and the inadequate light finished the game about 20 minutes before stumps were to be drawn. Scores:— VICTORIA First Innings M. Lance, b Alabaster .. ..14 P. Coutts, c Park, b Alabaster .. 39 D. Ward, run out .. ..27 H. Carver, b Park .. .. 59 J. Thomson, c Hunter, b Alabaster ■ .. .. ... 16 J. Pope, C. Leggat, b Alabaster .. 4 J. McDonald, not out .. .. 46 D. Boyer, not out .. .. 15 Extras (bye 1, leg-bye 1) .. 2 Total for six wickets dec. 222 Bowling.—W. Haskell, 4 overs, 0 maiden, 10 runs, 0 wicket; A. Young, 3,0, 8,0; A. Timpson, 12, 2, 45, 0; G. Alabaster, 41, 12, 78, 4; R. West, 1,1, 0,0; J. Park. 44, 15, 71. 1; D. Gallop, 2,0, 8, 0. CANTERBURY First innings R. F. Hunter, c Carver, b McDonald .. 47 W. I. Axford, c Boyer, b Thomson .. .. .. 47 G. A. Leggat, not out .. .. 17 G. D. Alabaster, not out .. 9 Extras (byes 3, leg-byes 2, noballs 2) .. ..7 Total for two wickets .. 127 Bowling.—J. H. Zohrab, 7 overs, 2 maidens, 21 runs, 0 wicket; J. Martin, 5,1, 12, 0; J. C. Thomson, 17, 7, 39, 1; M. McDonald, 15, 5, 22, 3; J. Pope, 2,0, 15, 0; J. McDonald, 11, 3, 15, 1.