Carlton on the verge of victory

TWO SOLID KNOCKS from opener Dale Richards and Kirk Gibson put Carlton on the verge of victory over CGI Maple going into next Saturday’s final day.
Richards, 85, and Gibson, 80, were involved in a second-wicket partnership of 179 that saw Carlton to 276 for seven declared.
Richards resumed on 48 overweek and was in his usual aggressive mode, striking seven threes and seven fours in an innings that lasted almost three hours. He received good support from the left-handed Gibson, who struck nine threes and four fours. Richards batted for 187 minutes before he was run out.
Faced with a deficit of 130 runs, Maple were struggling in their second innings, finishing with 179 for five, still 51 runs in arrears.