New Zealand: Old Boys intensify challenge (30 November 1998)

30 November 1998

New Zealand: Old Boys intensify challenge

The Christchurch Press

High School Old Boys continued their challenge of reeling in leader Riccarton in the WestpacTrust Trophy senior club cricket championship, being on the verge of outright success after just the first day of its fifth round match.

Old Boys have Burnside West-University on the rack -- five wickets down in its second innings after the visitor already trailed by 102 on the first.

Riccarton, meanwhile, is not assured first-innings points from its tussle with Lancaster Park-Woolston across Hagley Oval, after the lower order came to its batting rescue. When play resumes on Saturday the combined team wants 16 runs for first-innings points with two wickets in reserve.

With Old Boys seemingly assured of a 16-pointer, they would make substantial inroads into Riccarton's over-all lead of 21 points if the reigning champion was unable to beat Park-Woolston.

Elsewhere Old Collegians secured first innings points against East Christchurch-Shirley while St Albans is poised to do likewise over Marist.

Old Boys had Burnside West all but beaten on the first day. At stumps the visitor required 46 runs to make Old Boys bat again after losing 15 wickets in the day for 157 runs.

Burnside West was out before lunch on Hagley 1 after losing the toss. The bowling was accurate and the ball was moving about quite readily, Shane Bond and Chris Flanagan being particularly successful.

Shaun Craig hit some fine shots in between the times he played and missed while Campbell Ogilvie scored 25 off 25 balls.

Old Boys were able to declare with a lead of 101 before 5pm. Jeremy Innes led the way with a fluent, handsome 58; Ben Yock hit eight fours in his 38 and was fierce on the drive. Llorne Howell in his usual belligerent mood took only 38 balls to score his unbeaten 40 and was lent good support by Sam Foley who shared a stand of 35 before the closure. Mark Hastings was the best of the bowlers with surprising pace and movement.

Only a ninth-wicket partnership from Phil Monk and Lee Borcoski gave substance to Riccarton's innings after the competition leader decided to bat against Lancaster Park-Woolston at Hagley 3.

Riccarton was 92 for eight when Borcoski joined Monk and the 69-run stand was off only 72 balls with Monk striking seven fours in his 47.

The medium-pace Cornelius brothers, Wade and Cleighton, spearheaded the Park attack with Wade extracting bounce and lift from the even pitch.

After a fine innings of 71 from opener Mark Lane, Lancaster Park-Woolston suffered a collapse. Lane, who hit 11 fours and two sixes in his stay of 131 balls, was out at 152 and then three wickets fell for four runs leaving first-innings points in the balance.

Monk was accurate with his medium pace while Wayne Stead took his 200th senior wicket.

For a change it was not Old Collegians with the batting blues having claimed first-innings points after batting first against East-Christchurch Shirley at Elmwood Park.

The home side was solid through the middle order with Rob Murphy showing the way in making his maiden senior half-century until finally being the penultimate wicket to fall. However, David Grocott's medium-slow seamers provided problems and he made regular incisions into the Old Collegians' batting, finishing with five wickets.

East-Shirley's innings started promisingly with openers Carl Anderson and Michael Papps adding 42 for the first wicket.

But a sickening collapse, prompted by Mark Rountree's medium-pace deliveries, where eight wickets fell for just 18 runs, sent it crashing to 60 for eight. Rountree matched Grocott with a five-wicket bag, at one stage having five for 20.

David Grocott completed a valuable double for the day teaming with No. 10 Dave Neill, who showed some batting style in posting his highest senior score, an unbeaten 30, to add 47 for the ninth wicket.

Old Collegians added another 21 to their 49-run first innings lead, but lost two wickets in the half hour before stumps leaving the match open.

Marist ground its way to a modest 141 against a persistent St Albans attack at Warren Park.

St Albans, which sent Marist in, could have had it dismissed for less had five catches not been spilt in the field.

In the latter stages the bowlers took their wickets with either clean bowls or leg before wicket decisions, Stephen Cunis, Chris Martin and James Ward to the fore.

After a shaky start when it lost its openers for three runs, St Albans settled and John Davidson contributed a valuable 46, easily the day's highest score, striking seven fours from 85 balls and 98 minutes batting.

He shared a 55-run third wicket stand with Steven Knox and by stumps St Albans needed 32 runs for first-innings points with six wickets intact.

Marist 141 v St Albans 110-4;
Old Collegians 162 (R Murphy 59; D Grocott 5-46) and 21-2 v East Shirley 113 (M Rountree 5-39);
Riccarton 169 v Lancaster Park 154-8 (M Lane 71);
Burnside-West 101 and 56-5 v HSOB 203-5 dec. (J Innes 58).

Source :: The Christchurch Press (https://www.press.co.nz/)