A CLOSE FINISH.

Shannon News, 21 February 1922, Page 3

A CLOSE FINISH.

SHANNON BEAT WERAROA

FOR THE CRICKET PREMIERSHIP

Considerable interest centred m the cricket fixture between Shannon and Weraroa on Saturday, as the result practically settled the championship of the Horowhenua district for the present season. The game was played on .the Levin ground, the weather was perfect, and there was a considerable attendance of the public. The visitors batted first, and commenced with Main and Stewart to me howling of Pringle and Sloan, the latter opening the attack. With his fourth ball Sloan upended Main’s wicket. Ward, who filled the vacancy, failed to fetop Pringle’s third ball, and the score showed two wickets down for one run. Grainger was next, but he was beaten after scoring a single by a ball from Pringle that kept low—three for 7. Prain was the incoming batsman. Stewart opened Ills scoring account by a lour oil Sloan, but in the next, over lie was out l.b.w. to the same howler—four for 12. Kelly joined Prain, and the latter added four when he was run out—live for 27. Kelly batted confidently from the staid, and was quickly into double figures. Partnered by Harris, the pair raised the total to 50, when the latter hit wicket. Randall put on a useful 16 when he was beaten by Pringle, who captured the succeeding three wickets in his next over for four runs, Kelly being not out for 23, and the innings closed for 63.

Weraroa opened with Claridge and Pringle, Randell and Stewart taking up the attack. With seven on me board, Claridge was smartly taken by Randell off Stewart. Hughes was the next batsman, and without alteration in the score Randell scattered Pringle’s stumps. Thomas filled the vacancy. After Hughes had snatched a single and then a boundary oil Randell, he was out- > l.b.w. to die same bowler. Three wickets lor )2 With O’Connor in the runs came more freely, but with the total at 31 Thomas was taken by Main off Randell. O’Connor added a single, when he lost his partner, Sloan, before I e had scored. Hall was next, but with the tjotal at 47, and his own score O’Connor was dismissed by a smart catch in the slips by Kelly off Stewart. Weraroa, with four wickets to fall, were still 16 runs short of victory, but the Shannon bowlers were well on the wicket, and the fielding keen. Young lost his wicket without alteration in the score, and Harding and Hall carried on to 54, when me latter fell a. victim to Stewart. Bevan joined Harding, and the pair added a couple amidst great excitement, when Bevan was foolishly run out. . Sullivan, the last mail, notched a single, and it was also the last ot the innings, for Stewart removed his middle stump next over with the total at 57.

Shannon’s second innings produced 92 (Main 46, Stewart 16), and Weraroa had three wickets down for 20 when time was called. Shannon thus won on the first innings by six runs. Scores:— SHANNON. Main, b Sloan u Stewart, 1.b.w., b Sloan 4 Ward, b Pringle ••• 9 Grainger, b Pringle j Pram, run out ... ... • ••• 4 Kelly, not out ... ... ••• Harris, hit wicket 9 Randell, b Pringle Jt > Hunt, b Pringle ... : 9 Morgan, b Pringle [i King, b Pringle 9 Extras 4 Total Bowling: Pringle six wickets for 23, Sloan two for 24. ' WERAROA. Claridge, c Randell, b Stewart ... < Pringle, b Randell 9 Hughes, 1.b.w., b Randell ... p Thomas, c Main, b Randell ... 6 O’Connor, c Kelly, b Stewart ... -'6 Sloan, b Stewart 9 Hall, b Stewart . 7 Young, b Stewart ••• 0 Harding, not out ~ Bevan, run out 1 Sullivan, b Stewart ... ... J Total ... ••• ' u Bowling: Stewart six for 20, Randell three for 37.