WHEN THE TOSS IS WON

Chronicle (Levin), 24 February 1949, Page 7

WHEN THE TOSS IS WON

Old Cricket Controversy Revived Again (By "Not Out") The most interesting match last Saturday was undcubtediy tne meeting of the two leading teams, Shannon and Weraroa. Actualiy the match did not turn out as close as one expected on account of the Shannon team having a day off. What a captain should do on winning the toss has been argued in this district time and again. One day cricket and divided time makes all the ■ difference and it would appear that the wisest policy for the captain winning the toss is to send the other side in to bat. If Shannon had sent Weraroa' in on Saturday, -I doubt whether Weraroa would have been able to force an eight-point win. But then again all that is the uncertainty of cricket. , As it turned out, Shannon elected to have first use of the wicket and the initial misfortune came Weraroa's way when O'Donneil, one of their stock bowlers, had to ■ leave the field after bowling only two overs. Fortunately for the home team, Saunders was right on form and De Castro was able to do his part at tne other end. When McNeil proved diflicult to shift, tne veteran, G. C. France, came on with his slows and dismissed him with his first ball. France con.inued on to take another wicket at a total cost of one run. OuLside McNeil (30) , the Shannon batting was below usual form — as the total of 77 indicates. The Weraroa fielders ably supported their trundlers with perhaps the exception of J. Ryder, who, 'fielding close in, let one or two past. Jukes and Hudson gave Weraroa a fair sfcart, but things began tc iook gloomy wnen Hudson, Wallace and J. Ryder threw away their wickets in quick succession. Keen.'in and Wilson then became associated in a partnership bhat brought thc score along towards Shannon'^ total. After a first inning ^ad had been obtained, Shannon tried a change ' of bowlers, with the result that the score mounted rapidly through the hard-hitting D'Donnell, who notched 17 off one over. | The Shannon skipper soon | brought back his original bowlers j and the Weraroa batsmen once I more found these men very difficult to score off. In consequence Weraroa declared with eight wickets down and 50 runs in hand. Harris ■ bowled well throughout to take twc for 10 and Moore did well, finishing with four for 46.

Shannon s second * mnmgs was just a procession, Saunders, De Castro and France doing "the damage. Of their total of - 36 runs, Tippler (10) was the only batsman to reach double figures. Saunders' 10 wickets for 67 runs was certainly a field day for him. The Otaki-Levin match, played at Otaki, proved a very one sided game. The Levin team's fielding was not particularly good, while their bowlers did not undu y trouble the Otaki batsmen, who scored over 150 runs, Rice being the top scorer with 61 runs. The reply given by the Levin team was only 71 and at no stage of the game did their batsmen look like getting many runs. It was very pleasing indeed to see the Otaki Domain in such excellent condition. The senior competition is now at, a very interesting stage. With a round to go, Shannon and Weraroa are in the lead with 65 points each. These two teams are well clear of the other teams, Old Boys being in third p'ace with 44- points, foilowed by Foxton and Levin (38 each), Otaki (28), Paraparaumu (27) and College (22). In the junior competition, witn three rounds completed, Otaki lead with 61 points foilowed by Kuku (55), College A (37) and College B and Foxton (24 each)