CRICKET Rain Mars Coast-Ashburton Representative Fixture

Grey River Argus, 29 March 1948, Page 2

CRICKET Rain Mars Coast-Ashburton Representative Fixture

Game Results in Draw

After being lucky in the fact that rain, though threatening, did not fall on Saturday, heavy overnight rain and continual showers yesterday morning prevented any play yesterday in the final cricket match of the season. a representative fixture between Ashburton and the West Coast, played at rhe Recreation Ground. The game resulted in a draw after Coast had obtained a first innings lead of 69 runs. This was a very disappointing finish, as the West Coast had to regain laurels lost through its defeat by Buller a few weeks ago, and a victory over Ashburton would have done that, Ashburton having soundly defeated a Canterbury Colts team recently. There were still further changes in the West Coast team that took the field, S. Garforth and O. Morris replacing Robinson and Barlow, who were not available. West Coast won the toss and elected to bat on an easy wicket, in dull, threatening weather, Vaughan and Marshall opening the innings. Vaughan’s was the first wicket to fall, going leg-before to Wall wren the score was just 13. Dewar followed, but after one or two forceful shots, also went leg-before to Wall. Two for 29. Marshall and Donaldson then became associated in _an excellent partnership which realised 45 runs, 31 of which were scored by Donaldson in 37 minutes. Donaldson settled down quickly and played bright, entertaining cricket until he touched one behind to Griffiths, who held a good catch. Marshall and Ab°lson played quietly till the luncheon adjournment, when the score stood at three for 92. Immediately on the resumption, Marshall was clean bowled by Ashworth, after adding only one run to his total. Marshall had played a very patient knock of 162 minutes for his 39 runs, revealing a dogged defence, and at times brilliant scoring strokes. Garforth joined Abelson, and chieflly due to good batting by Abelson, the partnership was worth a valuable 32 runs before Garforth went .leg-before tot Wall. This was Wall’s third l.'b.w. victim. Morris joined Abelson, but failed to score, and six wickets were down for 126 runs. Abelson was the next to go, after making a good 22 runs, but also without any addition to the score. Seven for 126. The remaining batsmen added 35 runs to the total, of which Lee scored 22 before being run out, and the innings closed f<pr 161 runs.

Wall secured the best average for Ashburto-n with five wickets for 57 runs, but Zouch commanded more respect from the Coast batsmen, and maintained a much better length than Wall. Zouch secured two for 29 off 15 overs. Ashburton went to the crease on -i perfect batsman’s wicket, but their display was disappointing. The Coast bowlers were always accurate, but! were not really hostile on such, al dead wicket, though some of the bowlers showed more hostility than previously. Ashburton opened with Doig and Gosnell, and after a very subdued display Gosnell was the first io go when the score was 29, after 63 minutes’ batting. Doig was joined by Ashworth, who had scored a century against Canterbury Colts, but with the addition of only six runs. Doig was well stumped by Malley off Finnerty after making 11 runs in 81 minutes. Weir, who partnered Ashworth, also played slow cricket, and took 41 rriinutes to make 15 runs. Three wickets were thus down for 57 runs, made in 122 minutes. Wall joined Ashworth, but Ashworth was out with the addition of two runs to the total, after making 13 runs in G 9 minutes. Four for 59. Robertson was clean bowled by Finnerty, and "live were down for 60. Wall was the only Ashburton batsman to play entertaining cricket, and in his slay of 25 minutes scored 15 runs, before being dismissed by a good catch in slips. From then on it was just a matter of time, as the Coast bowlers were right on top, and the Ashburton innings closed at 5.49 with only 92 runs on the board, scored in 174 minutes.

Finnerty stole the bowling honours for Coast, with five wickets for 3C runs off 20 overs, and thoroughly deserved his figures. It is difficult tc understand why Finnerty was only the sixth bowler to be tried, and his figures definitely indicate that r<should have heen first change. Abelson accounted for the “rabbits” and finished with three for nine off 11 overs. These were really flattering figures. The remaining bowlers all performed creditably and gave nothing away. Scores were as follows: — WEST COAST (Ist innings) A. Vaughan, 1.b.w., b Wail 7 M. L. Marshall, b Ashworth 39 C. D. Dewar, 1.b.w., b Wall 6 R. Donaldson, c Griffiths, b Zouch 31 A. J. Abelson, b Wall 22 S. Garforth, 1.b.w., b Wall 8 O. J. Morris, run out 0 R. Lee, run out 22 F. Malley, c Gosnell, b Wall ... 6 J. Finnerty, 1.b.w., b Zouch .... 0 R. Stoop", not out p Extras L : 5 Total 161 Bowling analysis: M. Wall 15 overs, ? maidens, 57 runs, 5 wickets: W. S. Ashworth 13. 2, 36, 1; P. Zouch 15, 5. 29, 2; N. Willis 4,0, 18, 0; C. J. C. Harper 6,2, 6, 0. ASHBURTON (Ist innings) .7. Doig, c Malley, b Finnerty .. 11 I. Gosnell, run oiit 16 W. S. Ashworth, c Dewar, b Finnerty 13 A. Weir, c Stoop, b Finnerty ... 15 M. Wall, c Lee, b Abelson 15 C. Robertson, b Finnerty 0 J. Griffiths, 1.b.w., b Finnerty ... 2 N. Willis, 1.b.w.,’ b Abelson 4 •\ Porter, b Abelson <5 C. J. C. Harper, not out 1 P. Zouch, b Morris 0 Extras 10 Total 92

Bowling analysis: R. Stoop 5 overs, 2 maidens, 8 runs, 0 wickets; A.. Abelson 11, 4. 9,3; D. Dewar 10, 5, 21, 0; A. Vaughan 4,0, 7,0; R. Lee 11, 5, 12, 0: J. Finnerty 20, 5, 36, 5; O. Morris 1,1, 0, 1.