CRICKET

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVII, 19 November 1927, Page 8

CRICKET

(By “Mid-Ofl”) THE GAMES IN HAWKE’S BAY. PARS ABOUT THE PLAYERS. The second series of the senior cricket competition in Hawke’s Bay was commenced on Saturday. The only growl came from the batsmen who found that the ball was very elusive at times. Particularly was this so when a little extra vim was behind the many gusts of wind that were experienced. Another reason was that the wickets were in favour of the trundlers, yet the averages were not startling. * rf * Didn’t Worker work hard on Saturday? Well—he had to if he wanted to get a century.

United we stand! Yes. but on what? It looks as though during the coming -.-eek-end it will be--United we lost » *

They tell me Heretaunga have brought a crate to pack their duck eggs in. Perhaps it was eggs and bjicon for breakfast on Sunday.

Winners met winners and losers met losers on Saturday—Heretaunga, the victims of United meet H. 5.0.8. the victims of Tech. Old Boys.

Technical Old Boys run things pretty close. Saturday was the second time that they have just managed to scratch about for a mighty small lead on the first innings count. On the first day it was a lead of four; on Saturday it waa but a brace.

Bang! Bang! Bang! No. this isn’t a motor-cycle back-firing. It was Bickley sending Pirie to the leg boundary. Bang! This time it didn't go. as Rouse got in the way at square leg and Bickley walked back to the pavilion murmuring, “All good things ■’ome to an end,”

“Butch” was a little unpopular with a few of the “grass widows” on Saturday. They objected to his relections of the trundlers proposals to hang hard. There was a little controversy about his nationality too. (ho general opinion befng “Bonnie Scotland.” Anyway he fell to an Irishman. Puir auld Scotland!

Pirie (Technical Old Boys) and Von Stunner (High School Old Boys) came out with the best bowling averages. The former finished up with five wickets at a cost of eight runs apiece, and he kept the United hitters thinking all the time. The High School student had the remarkable average of four wickets for one run in three overs at the start but then he was banged about good and hard, seven of his balls going to the fence. Incidently. who said he is fast? To “Mid-off’s” mind the long run is but a waste of energy and time as the pace is only medium fast.

There was very little to brighten up the proceedings in the UnitedTechnical Old Boys game. It was slow going practically all the wav so far as the batting went. Bickley gave United a good start by putting nn 27 out of the 31 recorded when his wicket fell, but with the advent of Cane the hatting was unenterprising. Temperton could not get going against Pirie. and Evans and he fell to a simple catch at mid-off with the hoard reading 48. Two runs later Bradburn’s hopes of repeating his previous ninety were dashed by Pirie taking a smart catch halfway down the wicket. Scott-Kellv. who also made an auspicious start on the opening dav, slicked a catch into slips from Cohen's first over. After Bishop had been clean-bowled. Cane opened up to send Pirie to the edge of the carpet twice in the one over. He too fell a victim to a change of bowlers, O’Brien taking an over to dismiss the stone-waller leg-before. The score at this stage was 89 for six wickets then the “tail” wagged. Stevens added 20 to the score before being dismissed by a good high catch by Hardaker. The elimination of the batsmen was slow, each one staying there and allowing the runs to come until finally the innings closed for 143 after 160 minutes’ batting.

Technical Old Boys, too, were given a good start, and they bid friir to put up a substantial lead over United. Plested and O’Brien started off the innings, the latter opening his account with a brace of fours. When the score was 30, he was replaced by Evans, who made things lively by hitting seven boundaries in his contribution of 41 before he was caught in the slips. The opening batsman was the next to fall when the score was 95, his innings being a series of singles while his partners smote hard. Shephard and Cohen then became associated, but tiiey failed to repeat their previous exhibition, the ex-All Black going out with the score at 106. E Elliott end Cohen were on the way to place Tech, in front, but they too were dismissed while in the ’teens and it was left to Rouse and A Elliott to bat out time and scratch in an occasional run to give the Old Boys a lead of two with three wickets to go when stumps were drawn.

Heretaunga made a disastrous start and tlie fates were against ffiem al] through the innings. The first three batsmen fell for a duck’s egg apiece and when the fourth wicket had gone, the tally was just into double figures. Then it was that Vogtherr and Somerville stopped the “rot.” Von Stunner, who had captured th© four wickets, was sent. to the boundary five times in succession bv Vogtherr. The pair were, well set when Somerville had the misfortune to bang his eye and he had to retire with the score at 56 for five wickets. Fisher lasted three runs before lieing caught behind the sticks, then Pearson came along. He did not open wildly, but took his time while Vogtherr continued his hitting, but after

knocking up a lively three dozen he was caught in slips. Colts comprised the tail and they gave a good showing, both Parkinson and Lewis gettine in some pretty shots before they were separated, and the innings closed for 120. * • » There was but one outstanding man on Saturday and that was Worker. Mention must' be made of his wonderful exhibition at the crease. With but 120 to get to catch up with Heretaunga, he did not waste any time in setting the ball rolling to the boundary. Owen set him going by banging 13 in four hits, then the H. 5.0.8. skipper opened up. His partnership with Holt was a splendid one, both ran well between the wickets, Worker doing all the hitting while his partner held bis end up to bring the score to 64. After that, the wickets tell for a moderate price, but Worker had his eye in, and reached the half century in 40 minutes. It was in the fifth wicket stand that Worker placed his team in the lead and, aided by O'Connell, set out to give the Hastings lads a handicap. Pretty shots all round the wicket piled up the runs. His judgment rarely failed him, anfl when it did. his wicket was not endangered; and as. one after the other, the wickets fell. h« continued his superb display to carry his hat unconouered for 118 runs in 130 minutes’ batting.

Excellent as his display was with the bat, it was almost equalled by his example in the field. Worker was 'having a day out: his fielding was al] that could be desired. The brisk, business-like way in which he moves about the field inspires confidence. and the other plavers would do well to follow his example particularly as to his style of changing over.