CRICKET

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVIII, Issue 49, 26 January 1938, Page 15

CRICKET

NOTES ON THE GAME. (By “Point.”) Bringing what . was probably the strongest Feildiug side to engage the defenders of the Goldfinch and Cousins Cup for several years, the challengers of last Saturday produced interesting cricket. In one way they were unlucky, for they met a team which was playing well, and the Feilding team had not the little extra reserve in their bowling to call upon. At one stage they appeared to have quite a good possibility of taking the trophy home with them, but Ward and Waters were then associated in a partnership which produced runs very quickly and carried the total well beyond the challengers’ score. One Feilding wicket at least was lost under the pressure of having to make the runs quickly. The Feilding players were keen and bright, but they met a side which was stronger in bowling and one which was accustomed to a prepared wicket, which was faster than the Feilding wickets. In addition, the outfield was very fast and the side boundaries are not far distant on the Sportsground. when the ball is running well on the carpet. As it was, the visitors made a creditable total in producing 250 runs. Though he made only 21, the fifth highest score out of seven batsmen, G. Cameron gave a typically stylish display. His performance was enjoyable and it was a surprise when he went out. W. Cameron, his brother, also batted well. Edlin was putting on the runs well when he contributed 33, but was an uncertain partner for the other batsman. He was obviously anxious to see the total mount quickly, but that encouraged him to take chances. Taken on the whole, the running between the wickets of the Manawatu batsmen could have shown an improvement. On the other hand, some of the driving by members of both teams —a good even wicket lending itself to that—made for interesting batting. THE HOROWHENUA MATCH.

Expections were held in some quarters on Saturday when Horowhenua went to the wicket to reply to the Manawatu team's score of 265 that there would be a batting collapse, but Horowhenua's performance was better than anticipated and at one stage the batting was defying the bowling well. As it was, eight Horowhenua wickets fell for 123, but it must bo taken into account that two batsmen (who made the highest and next highest score) retired in order to give the other men an opportunity at the wickets. In the bowling the home side were the equal of the Manawatu combination, but the batting of the visitors was slightly superior. Mercer always commanded respect from the Manawatu batsmen. His bowling is akin to that of N. Waters, although a little faster, and his average was 4 for 63 off 13 overs, Murrow also bowled well —3 for 14. Several chances were missed in the field by the Horowhenua team, but some of the fielding close in was very smart. Horowhenua did not attempt to force the pace when they opened their innings, but Manawatu's hopes for an outright win rose somewhat when Jour wickets were down for only 56 runs, one of the four being that of F. Baumber, son of .H. Baumber, who some years ago played for _ Manawatu. H. Baumber and Davidson defied the bowling and, while Davidson adopted a rock-like defence, Baumber occasionally reached the boundary with lightning drives to cover and mid-off. At 109 both retired, and two more wickets fell for the difference between that and 123. Horowhenua gave the impression that had they hot had another team away in the Hutt Valley their performance would have been much better. The team at Levin was not the best available, and while Manawatu were on the brink of a first innings win, they encountered enough opposition to put them on their mettle. CLUB COMPETITIONS.

Interest has in no way flagged in the senior B grade of the, Manawatu interclub competitions ana, while Kia Toa hold the lead, with Y.M.C.A. and Combined Services not far distant, Old Boys are strong enough to add spice to the competition every time they meet one of the three. City and United .are not as strong as the rest but, taking the grade in a general way, it ha.s maintained the standard set last season, the view being held in some quarters that it is higher than a year ago. Kia Toa have not shown a marked superiority, but their bowling is fairly good and steady, while the batting, though not exceptional for the grade, has answered the dema.nds made of it. Y.M.C.A. have taken their points on steady bowling and patchy batting. Their batting is an unknown quantity, for at times it .lias proved formidable and at others undergone a slump. Combined Services have displayed the best batting of the grade. That of Old Boys has been erratic, although the bowling has been of a fairly constant standard. Taken on the whole, the wickets have been good, but on the second day they have shown a tendency to crumble. SOUTH AUCKLAND SIDE. In view of the visit of the South Auckland team to Palmerston North in February to challenge for the Hawke Cup, the following notes by a Waikato writer are of interest: With South Auckland’s Hawke Cup challenge now less than a month away players are endeavouring to reach their best form in the hope of being selected for the touring team. The bulk of the team will probably come from Hamilton, but there may be several representatives from country districts included. Sympathy for the smaller associations in the district should not, it is hoped, result in the inclusion of country players if the finest eleven can be selected from Hamilton alone. Arrangements are

in train for the South Auckland selector, Mr AV. Everest, to see prominent outside cricketers in action. It is hoped, as a result, to assemble the strongest team that the Waikato can field. The bowling of the side will present the greatest difficultv. There are no fast bowlers in Hamilton of sufficient class to merit inclusion. Going and E. Everest will probably be the fastest of those offering. In the me-dium-pace class B. Clough should be a certainty. with claims also for bis batting, and there will be little doubt about T. Lyon. Slow bowlers are not abundant. A strong case is being made for Cassidy, but there will be interest in the apupearance (perhaps this afternoon) of Hanley, a slow trundler from the Huntly district. Ho lias already impressed a number of Hamilton cricketers who have seen him in action. There is almost a surfeit of batsmen. The country districts have good players in Morgan and Laurie (Waipa), Riddells (Otorolianga), Seccombe and McKenzie (Te Kuiti). but they will find it difficult to displace the good young players in Hamilton. J. Everest must be selected; Lissette, Thompson and Sandford (Hamilton) | are all in the running, and the suc-j cess of Wept and Hunt must keep l their names prominent. Higginson.and I Aitken have performed erratically, but. they have as much chance as any of the others. For the wicketkeeping J

position Avery and R. Skeet have equal claims. Avery kept perfectly in the last representative game with Auckland, and is perhaps a shade faster than Skeet, though the latter is less liable to fall into error. The return of 0. McKenzie to Hamilton will increase the batting strength, provided he can reach form quickly. If he can, there will have to be a place for him. Experience in Sydney has given an edge to his batting. He is hittiiig the ball harder, especially in front of the wicket; furthermore, he is by no means a mediocre slow bowler.