Gray assists Wgtn

Press, 8 February 1986, Page 80

Gray assists Wgtn

PA Napier A tidy all-round performance from Evan Gray kept Wellington in the Shell Trophy cricket hunt at Napier’s Nelson Park yesterday. Gray did most damage with the ball as Central Districts, chasing Wellington’s first innings of 179, were all out for 153.

Then he logged top score of the game to date as Wellington reached 114 for four in their second innings, an over-all lead of 140 with a day to play. It was a long, slow day of cricket, with the Central batsmen struggling to handle the Wellington bowling line-up.

Under the accurate attack, the Central run rate crawled along, the slowest batsman being Steve Robertson who scored 35 in 250 minutes and from 226 balls. However, the tall Taranaki player played a vital sheet anchor role and could only watch in dismay as several partners disappeared after attempting to boost the run rate.

The main blows were the dismissals of the captain, Richard Hayward, and the wicket-keeper,

lan Smith, before lunch. Central were left in a delicate position at 110 for six at the end of the first session after starting the day at 54 for two. Gray was Wellington’s most successful bowler with four for 37 off 23 overs, while Paul Allott took three for 46 off 27. However, the most outstanding with the ball was Ewen Chatfield who bowled just under 36 overs for a return of two for 36.

Wellington, 26 runs in credit, had a disappointing start to its second innings with Justin Boyle failing for the second time.

His opening partner, Ross Verry, and the captain, Robert , Vance, carried the score along to 35 when both went after scoring 16 runs apiece. Then Gray and Ross Ormiston, top scorer of the first innings, came together and produced a fourth wicket partnership of 56. It gave Wellington an over-all lead of 140 with six second innings wickets in hand.

Gray (44 not out) carried on with Tim Ritchie to take the score

along to 114 and leave the game evenly poised.

Scoreboard: WELLINGTON First innings 179 Second innings R. Verry c Duff b Visser. 16 J. Boyle lbw Robertson. 1 R.Vance c I. Smith b Robertson 16 E. Gray not out 44 R. Ormiston s I. Smith b Stirling 29 T. Ritchie not outs Extras (lb2, nbl) ... 3 Total (for 4 wkts) 114 Fall: 7, 35, 35, 91. Bowling: G. Robertson 11, 1, 44, 2; P. Visser 9,4, 18, 1; W. Martin 10, 3, 21, 0; D. Stirling 8,1, 26, 1; S. Duff 4, 2,5, 0. CENTRAL DISTRICTS First innings (54 for two overnight) S. Robertson b Gray. t . 35 T. Blain c McSweeney b Allott 8 S. Duff c Gray b Maguiness 11 R. Hayward c Allott b Gray. 12 I. Smith c Allott b Gray 10 D. Stirling not out... . 21 G. Robertson b GrayO W. Martin c Ritchie b Allott 14 P. Visser c McSweeney b Chatfield 1 Extras (lbs, nbl) ... 6

Total 153 Fall: 56, 80, 99, 109, 115, 115, 153, 153. Bowling: P. Allott 27, 12, 46, 3; E. Chatfield 35.5, 18, 36, 2; S. Maguiness 17, 6, 29, 1; G. Larsen 1,1, 0,0; E. Gray 23, 11, 37, 4.