OPTIMISTS

NZ Truth, Issue 1210, 7 February 1929, Page 14

OPTIMISTS

Wairarapa Was * Trounced AND CUP STAYS (From "N.Z. Truth's" Palmerston , North Rep.) Optimistic that they would return with the Hawke Cup to keep the Ranfurly Shield company, the Wairarapa cricket representatives were well out iti their calculations at Palmerston North last week, where they were trounced by Manawatu. THE outstanding feature of the game was Baumber's bright and practically 1 chanceless knock of just over two hours for 162, and it was the greatest of pities that .his innings was terminated on a doubtful lbw decision. 'His 162 is the highest score yet recorded by a Manawatu batsman m Hawke Cup cricket, displacing N. Gallichan's 143 against Wanganui when Manawatu won the cup last season. Gallichan's 143, however, was the more meritorious score, inasmuch as it was made when his side was batting with its back to the wall, and was, moreover, made against much stronger bowling than- Baumber was called upon to face last week. ; Baumber's score was also made m the early stages of the game, when the result was as then indeterminate. . The Levin. batsman certainly brightened play, which prior to his advent had been dull and listless, and by confident batting piled up . the runs for his side. '.'.'■■ . V Included m his tally' were twentyone boundaries and a brace of six shots, '".i '■.: -; . ■:'.■'-■ Another solid score was Pacey's 72, which: required just over twice as many minutes to make. With the exception of B, Q. Blamires, the Wairarapa batsmen were far from comfortable when facing the home bowling, and though some of them made runs, . "they had to scratch all round the wlcftet for them. McVicar, Die'drich and Ongley shared the bowling, honors m Wairarapa's first innings, which terminated at 189, K. Uttley (39), Blamires (29) and Groves (23) being the only three batsmen tb^get over 20. . The challengers, who were required to follow on, failed to get the 238 runs m the second innings to avoid an' innings defeat,- falling short by 20 runs. In this innings Blamires did pot fall as cheaply as he did m the first, and Manawatu were trying all sorts of changes m the bowling to get rid of him when Norris, behind the wickets,, snapped him up, off Gallichan when he had 56 to his credit.