CRICKET COMMENT

Rotorua Morning Post, Issue 5311, 25 January 1947, Page 7

CRICKET COMMENT

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. - - _ . W. ■ I. LAURENCE'S GQOD DOUBLE.

(By

Ivan Laurence showed a welcome return to form when the R.S.A. defeated Kahukura in the last series of club matches. His sound, aggresr sive batting helped R.S.A. compi'le its good total. During Kahukura's two innings last Saturday, -Laurence bowled very well and in the first innings took eight of Kahukura's wickets for 20 mns. He was also to the fore in the second innings. Kahukura's showing was most disappointing and last year's winners of the McLean Oup will have to dig in on the second round to be near the top. But cricket is a funny game and the next few series of matches could easily alter -the competition ladder. Old Boys did not experience much trouble in dismissing Ngongotaha twice. The remaining three hatsmen only added two runs in the first innings, which closed for the total of £0 rtufcis. The ml^st suecessful (bowlers for Old Boys were J. Sherriff, five.for 23, and G. Hobbs, three for 25 These two bowlers have proved to be Old Boys' best . widket collectqrs, an-d of the two, I think Hobbs is. the most aggressive. Ngongotaha's second innings gave a little more promise. R. Dawson, D. Craig and H. Turton were hard to move. Dawson played a good def ensive and plucky innings after receiving a painful hand injury. He scored 32 runs and at the end of the innings was unbeaten. If Ngongotaha had had one other hatsman capable of staying wtih Dawson, the result may. have been different. The bowling honours against Ngongotaha's second innings again went to Hobbs and Sherriff, who took respectivelylfi four for 41 and three for 23. D. Ewert assisted, taking two -for 4. To-day sees the start of the final series of the first round. Ngongotaha plays 'City-Albion and Old Boys plays R.S.A. Kahukura has the hye. The mateh Old Boys versus R.S.A. should prove the match of the round, as it brings the two leadlng teams together and may well be the game to decide the competition. Old Boys' batting list is, I think, much sounder all round than that of R.S.A., but I think the R.S.A. attack has more vim. It should be an interesting game. The following is my unofficial list of points gained over the four series of matches played: — R.S.A., 24; Old Boys, 20; Kahukura, 11; City-Albion, 2 (one bye); Ngongotaha, 0 (one bye); School, 0 (two byes). Resultp at a Glance. R.S.A. 1st innings, 209; Kahukura, lst innings, 71; second innings, 57. Win for R.S-.A. by an innings and 81 runs. Old Boys, list innings, 233 for four, declared; Ngongotaha, lst innings, 80; second innings, '99. Win for Old Boys by an innings and 54t runs. Best Performances. B-owling. — I. Laurence.. (R.S.A.), eight for 20; J. Sherriff (Old Boys), five for 23 and three for 23 ; G. Hobbs (Old Boys), three for 25 and four for 41.Batting. — R. Dawson (Ngo), 32 not out.