Match 6 - Union

FERRIS WHEELS RAPIDFIRE 95, REDS MEET A UNION THEY CAN'T INFILTRATE

Friday April 10

The Reds NZ touring squad suffered their fourth tour loss yesterday, easily beaten by North Otaga CA senior grade premiers Union in chilly Oamaru. Alec 'Genghis' Kahn was recalled to the captaincy and lost his third consecutive toss on tour - making him the worst tosser since Jon Dorotich - and despite his desperate attempt to talk the opposition into batting, Union had no hesitation in sending the touring Reds in to bat on a tricky pitch. The tourists got off to a slow start. Experimental opener Rich Lovett demonstrated the 'Peter Principle' in action by leaving several inswingers until one eventually took his off stump, and departed to spend the rest of the innings admiring the magnificent view from the clubroom hill across the ground to the Oamaru Harbour. With balls popping and seaming, the tourists were quickly (or rather slowly) a limp 1-6 after the first seven overs.

Nick Whittock eventually got the duck off his back with several slashes over the slips. With in-form Tim Cherry taking quick singles at every opportunity, the next ten overs were far more productive and the score climbed to 1-44 at the seventeenth before Whittock got too ambitious with a lofted drive. Skipper Kahn came to the wicket and took an instant liking to his opposite number Johnston's dibbly-dobblers, pulling and sweeping him behind square. Cherry fell to a questionable lbw for an excellent 33 and Kahn soon followed, back-cutting once too often to slip, but at 4-91 in the 28th, the stage was set for the charge home. Which followed in fine style, as Jeff Scotland blazed a rapid-fire 46, lofting down the ground and cutting with power, while 'Postie' Powell hit the shot of the day, a sumptuous cover drive, to highlight his unbeaten 38. 'Blobbsy' Hobbs came in to face the last ball and selflessly relieved Lovett of the dreaded stuffed duck, and at 6-168 in 40 overs, Reds' faces were glowing with optimism.

They were glowing with something else an hour later as North Otago rep player James Ferris flayed a rapid-fire 95 from 54 balls. Missed on zero with a hard-hit smash to mid-on, Ferris hoisted 6 sixes and 10 fours in a devastating display. With Ferris
well supported by the brothers Shields, the score raced to 1-134 in just fifteen overs with just Hobbs having success after a fine catch by 'JT' Taylor at short third man off a slash by the larger of the Shields bros. The belated introduction of "Prince" Harry Martin to the attack produced two more wickets. Tim Cherry finally had the joy of holding one after missing two difficult running catches in the outfield, while keeper Kahn eventually got the stumping he was looking for after the popping pitch twice saved batsmen earlier. Rob Johnson turned in a tidy spell, but it was too little too late after the earlier carnage.

Today the Reds' touring squad make their final road trip back to tropical Christchurch for the big weekend double-header against Southern Districts and Burnside West. Much attention will be on whether the squad can cope with lingering injuries, curfew-breachers and - above all - the possible return of Big Kev, New Zealand's answer to Sir Les Patterson.

Match: Reds XI vs Union CC
Date: Thursday April 9
Venue: King George Park, Oamaru
Toss: Union CC
Weather:
Pitch: Damp and sporty
Players of the match: J. Ferris (Union) J. Scotland (Reds)