VERY CLOSE FINISH

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 72, 27 March 1933, Page 12

VERY CLOSE FINISH

WELLINGTON THE CHAMPIONS

INTEREST IN FINALS

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCES. Batthm.

Interest in the 1932-33 Wellington senior cricket championship was sustained right till the drawing of stumps on Saturday, when the final series was completed. Wellington, who won the title by a single point, could have been deprived of it had Petone succeeded in disposing of Hutt. A first innings win to Petone would have necessitated the averages being brought in to decide the issue, and the two leading teams were so nearly level in this respect up to the commencement of the final series that, although Wellington failed narrowly by 7 runs to reach Kilbirnie's first-innings total, the team concentrated on endeavouring to dismiss Kilbirnie cheaply in the-second innings with a view to improving their net average. Although the weather was threatening about midday the conditions for .play were very good, wHb the wickets in splendid order. Except in the ease of the HuttPetone match on the No. 1 wicket at the Basin Reserve, however, the bowlers held the upper hand. Hutt started badly in their reply to Petone's score of 424 for seven wickets, but the later batsmen successfully withstood the attack, McLeod playing a particularly fine iunings. On the neighbouring wicket there was an exciting finish on the first innings, Wellington failing by 7 runs to reach Kilbirnie's total of 183. Crook and Griffiths accounted for most of the wickets. Kilbirnie fared badly in their second innings, and for a while there appeared to be a chance of Wellington snatching an outrght win. The tail-end batsmen, however, particularly Crook and Wrigley, spoilt their chances. Morgan bowled very effectively and would have secured better figures had not chances ©ft" his bowling been missed. Institute dismissed Wellington College Old Boys for 197 runs, winning easily on the first innings—their only win for the season. Duffy took five wickets for 19 runs. Despite a useful ■ contribution by the consistent Tindill, Midland failed by 20 runs on the first innings against University. \ Dean accounted for haK the wickets.

CHAMPIONSHIP TABLE. The position on the championship table at the finish, was as follows:—

McLeod (Hutt) *S5 Timlin (.Midland) 07 l'ursloe (Old Boys) ""' 58 Lamason (Old Boys) ♦ Oti Lccs (llutt) 55 Sadler (Old Boys) 45 Lawton (.\tlilliiiiil) "* 43 Ell (Wellington) .'.'.'.■.; 42 ♦Not out. Bowling. Duffy (Institute) 5 for 10 Crook (KUblrnlc) 5 for 68 Doan (University) a for 71 Morgan (WcIliiiRton) 4 for 07 Mallard U'etone) 4 for 131

S-pt. 5-pt. P. wins. wins. L. D. Wellington ... -10 2 4 3i 1 KUMrnie .... 10 0 7 2 1 Petone 10 2 3 3 2 Hutt 10 0 5 3 2 University .'.10 0 4 5 1 Old Boys ... 10 0 4 5 1 Midland .... 10 0 3 G 1 Institute , 10 0 1 8 1 Pts. 38 37 35 20. 22 22 17 7-

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