Date-stamped : 13 Oct97 - 10:10 From The Press - October 13, 1997 Runs feast on Lincoln pitch The Press The durable quality of the New Zealand Cricket Academy pitch at Lincoln Green was proved at the weekend when the home side and Canterbury scored more than 400 runs apiece on each day of a two-day game. On a pitch which had also been used for the previous game against Wellington, the New Zealand Academy side reached 450 for eight from 112 overs batting yesterday, overhauling Canterbury's imposing first day score of 415 for seven. While Canterbury opener Darrin Murray had been the first-day star, striking an impressive 160, his feat was matched by Academy wicketkeeper-batsman Gareth Hopkins who scored an unbeaten 164. Hopkins teamed with Nathan Morland and Shane Bond in the lower order to revive the Academy innings which was struggling at 162 for six. Hopkins added 143 in 98 minutes with Morland for the seventh wicket. Then he shared in an unbroken 128 in 87 minutes with Bond who slammed an unbeaten 80 from 81 balls with nine fours and three sixes. On Saturday Murray also shared two century stands, the first of 156 with Scott Pawson and 125 with Gary Stead who timed the ball sweetly in his 68. Much interest when the Academy team batted focused on the fitness of New Zealand team aspirant Geoff Allott, seeking to confirm a place in the team to tour Australia which will be named tomorrow. The burly left-armer mustered good pace in three spells (16 overs) but went largely unrewarded, apart from the early wicket of Canterbury team-mate Craig Cumming. scoreboard: Canterbury 415-7 dec. (D Murray 160, G Stead 68, S Pawson 65, R Frew 32; J Oram 3-40, S Bond 2-77) lost to New Zealand Academy 450-8 (G Hopkins 164no, S Bond 80no N Morland 72, J Oram 62; M Owens 3-73, M Priest 2-86) on the first innings. Source :: The Canterbury Press (http://www.press.co.nz/) Contributed by The Management (help@cricinfo.com)