FAST SCORING RECORD

NZ Truth, Issue 1108, 24 February 1927, Page 14

FAST SCORING RECORD

, 2 10' Runs In An Hour (From "N.Z. Truth's" Special Christchurch Representative.) Two hundred and ten runs an hour. How's that for fast scoring? This was the feat accomplished by two Riccarton batsmen m the match against Lin wood atHagley Park on Saturday.

AS Riccarton were 53 runs behind on the flrst innings it was necessary that they should score quickly and then put their opponents m again. It was their only hope ' of pulling the game out ;of the fire. i. When O. T. Gprrie and A. Roberts went out to open Riccarton's second innings everybody expected to see a case,, of hit or get out. But nobody anticipated that it would be a case of hit and stay m. This, however, is precisely what happened. Riccarton's deficiency - was wiped off m twenty minutes. * Then, another fifty were added m fifteen minutes, making a total of thirty-five minutes for the century. Another twelve minutes saw a further fifty added, and the fourth fifty took only 10 % minutes, the two hundred taking exactly 57 % niinutes. An hour's play saw 210 up and the pair carried, on till the score was 234---made iri 67% minutes. ■ At this stage Gorrie was bowled, his share of the total being 144. No fewer than 120 of these runs were made by boundaries and over-the-bbundary shots. '.'''.' He hit ten sixes and fifteen fours. He planted them to fall parts of the field, but his : favorite shot — and incidentally the most disconcerting one to the bowlers was a pull, right oft! the stumps; round to leg. These strokes almost invariably resulted m a four or a six. It was the greatest exhibition of hitting seen m- Christchurch for years. It was^also easily a record for fast scoring for Canterbury. _ The spectators were delighted with it and applauded from all parts of the ground. . •'liinwood had ; two hours and ten minutes m which to' make 233 runs

which would give them a three-point win. ' -■■-... They failed badly, however, and as Talbot , was an absentee the others were disposed of m ah hour and aquarter for 93 runs. This gave Riccarton a very deserving three-point win. ■„.--...■ Riccarton now have a lead of six points for the championship from Old Boys arid East Christchurch, both of whom scored wins on Saturday arid moved up into second place ahead of Linwood apd St. Albans, who were both iilefeated, ■ and remain at 10 points. Old Collegians made a, gallant effort to reach the' ; 3s7 which East had made on the first day, their last wicket falling at 305. On the first day Sydenham had made 441 for nine wickets against West and the innings was only continued m order to give young Philpott a chance of passing his century. He had 97 not out at the end of the first day's play. As soon as he got his century the innings was closed. " \ Cunningham's bowling was too much for West who were disposed of for 176, a 42 by Booth. being the best batting -effort.' ' '';' .."; Old Boys had the wood on St. Albans at the end of the first day .and they converted their first m"- -"" nings lead into a three-point win. .With 257 on for 'seven wickets at the end of the flrst day, Old Boys declared without continuing on Saturday. They got St. Albans out for 186 m the second innings, thanks to fine bowling by Burrows, M.erritt and Nixon, who took three, four and three wickets respectively. Old Boys required only 19 runs and they hit them off without the loss of a wicket.