lI "Howzat!" Offord Cricket Week 6th to 10th December Durban 6th November vs. CAMPBELL Away Lost by 19 runs On this notoriously slow Tech outfield but very good wicket,we won the toss and asked Camp bell to bat. Although our bowling was generally tight (Immelman,4/16 in 15 overs), a sixth wicket partnership between Arter(30)and Sanders(22)took the scorefrom 57to 92,using some loose stufffrom Knight(3/37) to help them along. The side was all out for 115 after some very indifferent fielding and an over-confident tone from our players. We were in to bat soon after lunch and at 50/2,seemed assured of getting the runs. With Bester (33) out at 54, Heenan (23) hit the ball around with abandon before he was caught. We were then 81/5, and the remaining wickets fell for the addition of only 15 runs- 19 runs short of Campbell's total. The Campbell fielding was as good as ours was poor,and a remark able bowling performance by Hamilton (5/11 in 13 overs) was the best against us this year. Campbell: 115(Immelman 4/16, Knight 3/37) Kearsney: 96 (Bester 33, Heenan 23, Hamilton 5/11) 20thNovember Away vs. HILTON Match Drawn - rain stopped play Batting first on a fairly lively wicket,the slightly changed team seemed to be off to a good start with Bester (46) and Foxcroft (13) striking the ball well. But three wickets fell in 20 minutes (49 runs) and then another two with the total at 70. This brought Mike Hall(an experiment at No.6)and Pilkington (recalled from 2nd XI)together in a fine unbroken sixth wicket partner ship of 74. Hall had 30 and Pilkington 39, when a deluge flooded the field just after lunch. Kearsney: 144/5 (Bester 46,Pilkington 39,''' Hall 30'') 27th November vs. Home NORTHLANDS Match Drawn Batting first again, we found that a quick shower just before play began had made the wicket tricky and the ball was seaming prodigiously. 3 wickets fell within half-an-hour (all catches behind the wicket)and there were only 21 runs on the board.Then Immelman(36)and Pilking ton (39)came together to take the score to 98,when they were both out-a 4th wicket partner ship of 77. Another short stand between Eigenmann (16) and Ellis-Cole (14) added 32 and we were in the pavilion for 147.Our seamers struck early and Immelman,particularly,bowled very well(5/31). The sky became darker and at tea (98/6) it looked as though a storm would end the game.Butthe light held,and with Davy(3/9)and Knight trying to getthe overs through quickly, three further wickets fell (9/124). The last man in appealed successfully against the light, and although conditions improved, we did not take to the field again. Kearsney: 147 (Pilkington 39,Immelman 36, Farrar 4/30) Northlands: 124/9(Immelman 5/31, Davy 3/9) Cricket conditions during all five days on almost all wickets favoured the bowlers. Four days of continuous rain during the previous week had laid a watery foundation to the pitches and, although they became firmer by the day,there was a great deal of life in them for the seamers. All were very well grassed, and the outfields were extremely slow. It was to be expected, then,that scores were low(many sides on the first two days were dismissed for under 50 runs) and bowling analyses had an exaggerated respectability. These were conditions for the bats men who were prepared to graft for runs,and the week generally showed that such men were few and far between. Both Mike Bester (opening bat) and Justin Immelman (medium pace) were selected to represent Natal Schools at Nuffield Week in Johannesburg in January; we congratulate them and wish them good fortune. 6th December vs. INLAND DURBAN Kings Park 2 Won on 1st innings by 8 runs Immelman won the toss (as he did in all five matches of the Week)and had a difficult decision to make. Electing to bat, we were met by a very slow and rising ball that even our more experi enced batsmen were unable to adjust to. Eight catches were taken, most in the close positions, and ourteam was dismissed for44in 20overs.We were atthe crease for an hour and45 minutes. Inland Durban fared worse and were out for 36 at about 2.30. With a close field being set, few batsmen were prepared to wait for the ball and send it to the outfield. Tight defensive play to the slow ball was not the strategy in this game and the second innings showed that the pulls and hooks of Foxcroft(30)and Davies(23) could be successful. We made 90/9 and our oppo nents 53/4 at stumps. Kearsney: 44 and 90/9(Winchester 5/5,Foxcroft 30,Lambert 5/29) Inland Durban: 36 and 53/4(Immelman 4/14, van Zyl 4/16, Berry 32) 72
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