CRICKET'S SPECIAL DAY

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 135, 5 December 1938, Page 17

CRICKET'S SPECIAL DAY

AID TO PLAYING FIELDS' FUND

NOTABLE DISPLAY BY H. M. M CGIRR

Hero of many a cricket battle.in the- past, H. M. McGirr came right back into his own when called into service for the past representatives in one of the special cricket marches at the Basin Reserve on Saturday afternoon. It was a day set apart for cricket to aid the City Council's fund for the provision of more playing grounds, and the three main cricketing bodies combined in staging a series of matches, the principal of which was that in which a team billed as past representatives met a Wellington Cricket Association team. A good deal of interest was aroused in the reappearance of "oldtimers," and there was quite a large attendance at the Basin Reserve for the occasion. That some of those who were assembled with the Past could well take their places with^ distinction in presentday top grade ranks was made very apparent during the match, but it was McGirr who really carried off the honours of the day. His all-round performance, which included a sparkling century, towered above all else. There were other contributions of note, and one attracting particular attention was that of F. W. Gilligan (formerly of Essex) in keeping wickets for the past players. His work was really fine.

Other special matches were played on various grounds, Wellington Cricket Association, Mercantile League, and Hutt Valley Association teams taking part in these." Except for two W.C.A. lower grade matches and the C grade of the H.V.A., play in championship competitions was suspended.