Date-stamped : 04 Nov96 - 10:13 4 November 1996 Lopsided results in club cricket The standard of senior club cricket in Christchurch may again come under scrutiny after largely lopsided, low-scoring results in the fourth round of the Trust Bank Cup competition on Saturday. Three teams failed to reach 100 and were predictably beaten as the bowlers enjoyed wickets freshened by rain and cool tempera- tures on Friday. The switch to playing one-day games early in the season, instead of two-dayers which give players more chance to bat and bowl for longer periods, may have backfired. The standard of club play in Christchurch was slammed recently by national coach Steve Rixon, an Australian, and the Canterbury Cricket Association, through chief executive Tony Murdoch, has also stated its concern. Riccarton and Sydenham maintained their unbeaten records in comfortably accounting for Marist and Woolston WMC respective- ly. East-Shirley swept aside Old Collegians which was bundled out for 70 while St Albans capitulated for 73 against the strong Old Boys attack. Burnside West-University mustered the day`s highest tally of 227 for nine which was in excess of Lancaster Park`s ability and it folded for 88. Riccarton`s tally proved too much for Marist on Hagley No. 3. Riccarton`s middle order batted solidly after three wickets fell cheaply. Extras top scored with a whopping 47 including 34 wides, Darron Reekers being particularly off target with 15. Wayne Stead returned to the game after a month off with a shoulder injury and equal top scored with 35 but did not bowl. Marist struggled to make progress losing early wickets against Riccarton`s accurate attack on a wicket tending to play low and finished 75 short. Sydenham had four players pass 20 but none topped 35 against Woolston WMC on another testing wicket at Sydenham Park. Canterbury batsman Darrin Murray led the way with 34 until his innings was ended by a run out with Chris Bell, Anthony Timp- son, and Stephen Gibson all bowling well for Woolston WMC. However, Sydenham`s 174 for nine was not seriously threatened by Woolston which was all out for 109 against a Sydenham attack which had medium pacers Carlos McGillivray, Todd Harris, and Richard Tooby to the fore. St Albans helped the Old Boys bowlers with some irresponsible shots in demanding conditions when survival may have been the best option on Hagley No. 1. Old Boys itself was extended losing six wickets before overtak- ing the St Albans score with the key fifth-wicket partnership between Brendan Fahey, who had earlier bowled effectively, and David Bond. They saw off the danger posed by Mark Priest (none for nine from ten overs with six maidens) after Chris Mar- tin had ripped the top off the Old Boys batting. Old Collegians batting also disappointed. The team was all out for 70 with Keith Gardner contributing 39. There were five ducks and some questionable shot selection. East charged to victory in just 15.4 overs losing only one wicket. Burnside West`s batting was solid against Lancaster Park with Simon Packman, the only batsman to pass 50 for the round, and some other handy knocks at Burnside Park. The home side`s bowlers returned impressive figures with Camp- bell Ogilvie, Russell Haglund, and Gerald Barrett completing useful doubles. Source :: The Press (http://www.press.co.nz) Contributed by The Management (help@cricinfo.com)