WHAKATANE WINS FIRST CLELAND CRICKET MATCH

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 16, Issue 34, 18 December 1950, Page 5

WHAKATANE WINS FIRST CLELAND CRICKET MATCH

In the first game of the Cleland Shield cricket tournament, Whakatane Colts defeated Pongakawa Colts at the showgrounds on Saturday by 50 runs and thus qualified for the final which will be played later in the season.

D. Carling and C. Griffiths opened Whakatane’s innings, Carling getting a six off the second ball. After scoring 15, he was caught off Wade’s bowling and the first wicket was down for 19 runs. B. Whiteside joined Griffiths who was hitting solidly. After batting for 35 minutes, Whiteside was caught close in by Hodges and two wickets were down for 37 runs in an hour’s play 37-2-9. Shapley hit up a quick 13 and was also caught 58-3-13. Wickets fell steadily and at lunch the score was 6 for 105. J. Ross went shortly after resuming with 14 to his credit. Griffiths and D. Howat raised the total to 146, when Griffiths took a lusty swing at Allen and was clean bowled. His was an invaluable innings. He batted for 165 minutes for his 56 runs, gave a couple of chances but displayed a broad bat to all the bowling. Griffiths displayed infinite patience and was never rattled by the bowling. The innings closed at 147. G. Wade bowling medium pace secured 4 wickets for 22 runs off 15 overs. R. Allen, a slow spinner, secured 2 for 24 off 13 overs, six of which were maidens. D. Searle also got 2 wickets for 32 runs. Mai’telletti was outstanding in the field but Pongakawa’s catching was not of its usual high order and at least eight, chances were dropped and went a long way towards their defeat. D. Searle (Capt) and K. Hodges commenced Pongakawa’s innings but, with two runs up, Hodges was bowled by Carling. The second wicket went at nine, the third at 11 and, with 19 on, Searle went. Allen 18 and Pattie 14 made efforts to stem the fall of wickets but at 60 eight wickets were down. Martelletti and Wade became asociated, and had added 31 (the best stand of the innings) when B. Whiteside put paid to Pongakawa’s hopes by getting Martelletti (21) caught behind by wicketkeeper P. Howard, who gave; a nice display. Six runs later the dashing Wade was out for a bright 16 and the side’s total was 97, just 50 short.