Hawke Cup Elimination Match Reviewed: Bay Comparatively Poor Side

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 12, Issue 13, 16 January 1948, Page 4

Hawke Cup Elimination Match Reviewed: Bay Comparatively Poor Side

Hamilton’s picturesque Seddon Pdrk was the scene of very interesting cricket during the New Year holidays, when Waikato beat Bay of Plenty in the Hawke Cup elimination match. On the first day there were some 500 spectators present and interest was maintained right throughout the three days of play. The wicket was found to have been -overwatered during preparation and when “The Bay” won the toss it did not hesitate in asking Waikato to bat. The match was for the right to • challenge or play for the Hawke Cup. For an hour the wicket was difficult but unfortunately “The Bay” bowlers were not capable of exploiting it. Waikato seemed particularly lucky to reach 228 runs. “The Bay” began well and at stumps after two hours play had 94 on the board for four wickets— Spring having 71 not out. He eventually made 76 out of a total of 148. Next morning the Bay collapsed and ended with 80 runs behind on the first innings. Waikato commenced its second innings at 11 a.m. on the second day and “The Bay” was kept in the field until 6 p.m. during which time the “in the shade” temperature reached 93 degrees. An extra 30 minutes play on the third day saw Waikato all out for 358 leaving “The Bay” 438 runs to get in its second innings to win. It ended up with 99 runs leaving Waikato the winner by 339 runs.

Some lessons were learned during the match. The standard of cricket represented by “The Bay” team is poor comparatively speaking. It is of no use sending a team out of the Bay unless it is fully representative. Some good players were left at home for financial reasons and a last-minute choice of a “stopgap” wicket-keeper cost “The Bay” 68 extras in two innings. Some of these naturally could not be prevented but at least 50 of them could have been saved by one of the Bay regular keepers. The Bay really has no bowlers and is little better off for batsmen.

Waikato’s batting was just ordinary and the team does not contain a realiy good batsman of say Plunket Shield class.' Its bowling strength is not up to good Hawke Cup elass. Petrie, the Waikato wic-ket-keeper is good and approaching Plunket Shield- class. The wicket was not up to standard and the outfield was not cut for the occasion. The Bay deserved to lose and Waikato did not dessrvte to win.