CLOSE-FOUGHT GAME.

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 354, 8 February 1937, Page 2

CLOSE-FOUGHT GAME.

PATEA BEATS STRATFORD Nine Wickets Fall To Edwards lln a low- scoring match against Patea, at Patea, on Saturday, ths Stratford A team was defeated by the narrow margin of 91 runs to 85. Chief honours of the day went to Edwards, the Patea slow bowler, who in addition to giving a solid performance as opening batsman, took nine of the Stratford wickets for 36 runs. The absence of several regular men, including the opening batsman, Gray, somewhat weakened the Stratford side. Hall, however, was. in good form and when his opening partnership with McKenzie was still unbroken at 36, Stratford's chances of overtaking the Patea total seemed almost assured. It was then that Edwards started to wreak havoc. Gaining his first scalp when McKenzie succumbed to an; l.b.w. decision he got Bamford the same way with hie next ball but one and from then on gained at least one wicket in each over and three in his second to last. Beere, the' most reliable middle innings batsman in the team this year, was over-confident am} after hitting Edwards' almost out of sight for six had his wicket skittled next ball. His score of 14 was made up of this' hit and two fours. Although less effective than usual as a batsman Beere was in good bowling form, taking four wickets for 46. The dismissal of the Patea tail was effected In double quick time by the veteran and ex-Taranaki representative, H. Cole, who took the last three wickets for only two runs. Details are: PATEA. Bourke, b Beere 10 Edwards, l.b.w. Beere 9 Simpson, b Hunter 6 Peterson, c Stokes, b Beere .... 5 Burgess, l.b.w. Beere 13 Bonner, c Bamford, b McKenzie 7 Ellis, run out 20 Jones, b Cole o Pauling, b Cole j Archer, b Cole 8 Baldwin, not out o Extras 12 Total J, Bow-ling: Beere took four wickets for 46 runs; Hunter, one for 13; Me Kenzie, one for 18; Cole, three for two. STRATFORD. Hall, c Baldwin, b Edwards' .... 35 McKenzie, l.b.w. Edwards 6 Bamford, l.b.w. Edwards 0 Beere, b Edwards 14 Cruickshank, b Edwards 0 Hunter, b Edwards 9 Cole, b Simpson 0 Hancock, b Edwards 2 Collins, l.b.w. Edwarde 0 Stokes, c Simpson, b Edwards . . 7 Bonner, not out 2 Extras n. Total 85 Bowling; Peterson took no wickets for 35 runs; Pauling, nonei for 13; Edwards, nine for 36; Simpson, one for 15.