CRICKET COMMENT

Rotorua Morning Post, Issue 5303, 16 January 1947, Page 3

CRICKET COMMENT

"OldtifiieiV')

HARD*HiTTiNG eMNTURV BY | £, ANBREWS — - i

(By

Last Saturday brought us to the i'ourth series of matches in the McLean Cup copipetition. Ngongotaha is playing Old Boys and R.S.A. against Kahukura, while City-Albion has the bye. If Old Boys should securc a six-point win — and it has a good chance of doing so — and R.S.A. or Kahukura only a four-pointer, it will make the competition much closer and keener. • Eric Andrews' century against Ngongotaha completed a successful week's cricket for this stumper-bats-man. His five catches hehind the sticks against the Auckland Cclts were well worth watching and so was his 119 not out on Saturday. This knoclc, which took approximately 150 minutes, included 18 boundaries. D. J. Ewert 53, S. Burgham 29, and W. Higgins 24, all helped to compile the I good tally of 233 for four wickets declared for Old Boys. Doug Ewert | was not auite as sound as usual. Many of his shots were in the air. Higgins also played some air shots taiore he was very neatlv stumpecl by D. Craig. D. Garner bowled well for Ngongotaha. He had a lot of work to do and at times had all the batsmen worrying with his sharp off breaks. He thoroughly deserved his two wickets out of the four that fell. Garner also deserves mention for his solid batting. This ex-Higb School boy, who has a style all his own, has proved his sound defence and when he hits a loose ball, he hits it hard. His batting held the Ngongotaha side together on Saturday. Jack Sherriff was the nicst successful bowler for Old Boys and so far he has taken four for 23. Good Team Knock by R.S.A. It was pleasing to see Ivan Laurence strike form on Saturday. This very fine batsman has had a had run of luck this season and his 74 against Kahukura materially helped R.S.A. compile the good total of 209. He Ayas 'rery ably supported hy R. Pringle, who, although he made only 23 runs, was at the crease for the major part of R.S.A.'s innings. D. Rose added a useful 25 runs bei'ore he Avas caught and bowled by W. Heley. The tail-enders all wagged well and carried the total along. R. Hcoper's quick bowling was the most successful of the day. He took three R.S.A. wickets for 20 runs. The Kahukura batsmen will have to put their best fset forward to get the runs and it will depend on the first four or five. If these succeed, the 209 should eome easily. Very shortly the Rotorua representative team should be called cn to play some outside games. With the materialt availaible 'this season the Rotorua side should give a good account of itself. I think the following players deserve serious consideration : — R.S.A. — Laurence, Rc-se, R. Spedding. Kahukura. — R. Dixon, Neeson, Heley. Old Boys. — Ewert, Andrews, Sherriff, Higgins, Hobbs, Costello. City-Albion. — Collett, Curtis. Results at a Glance Old Boys. — First innings: 233 for 4 wickets declared. Ngongotaha. — First innings: 79 for fi. R.S.A. — First innings: 209. Kahukura. — First innings: 1 for none. Best Performances Batting. — E. Andrews (Old Boys), 119 not out; I. Laurence (R.S.A.), 74; D. Ewert (Old Boys), 53. Bowling. — J. Sherriff (Old Boys), 4 for 23; R. Hooper (Kahukura), 3 for 20.