HAWKE CUP MATCH

Taranaki Daily News, 4 December 1926, Page 15

HAWKE CUP MATCH

TARANAKI COMMENCE WELL FIRST INNINGS REALISES 188. ’ KINGSTON’S INSPIRING DISPLAY. ■ " WANGANUI LOSE 2 WICKETS FOR 17. (By Wire—Special Reporter.) Wanganui, Last Night. Bright batting and an effective assault by the two fast bowlers have placed Taranaki in a satisfactory position at the end of the first day's play in the challenge match between Taraiiaki and Wanganui for the Hawke Cup, which was featured by a graceful yet exhilarating display by Kingstonefor 64. Taranaki made 188 with only a short time left. Wanganui made an unfortunate start, losing two of their best batsmen, Dempster and Orr, for a mere bagatelle. Stumps were drawn with two wickets down for 17. Little did not arrive this morning and -was replaced by Wilson. Heavy rain early in the morning had drenched the wicket, necessitating the postponement of the opening until two o’clock. Except on rare occasions the wicket played well, Kingston won the toss, electing to bat. The Taranaki batsmen throughout the innings played doggedly, watching every ball carefully, but they pleased the onlookers with their showing. Kingston was continually on the qui vive for runs, and kept the fieldsmen wary and the crowd happy. Nasmith was struck twice by the leg with fast bowling and was compelled to retire when his score was only two. He eame back after the eights wicket fell and secured a not out. Bottriil opened very cautiously with six singles and in a stylish innings of 24 included 16 singles. His partnership with Kingston added 57 runs for the sixth wicket. Kingston hit eleven boundaries, four in succession. His only chance, a difficult one, was given when his score was 51. KINGSTON STEPS OUT. Clarke, Chee vers, Lay and Grayson all played valuable innings. Several incidents in the visitors’ innings brightened the play and maintained interest amongst both fieldsmen and onlookers. Kingston tantalised the wicketkeeper and others by standing out of his crease to practically every bowl and lured on the fieldsmen to shie at the stumps by frequent excursions part of the way down the wicket. Cole despatched a slow bowler twice in succession over the leg boundary. A fieldsman was moved there and Cole, thirsting to repeat his performance, fell into the trap. When his score was one, jClarke was dropped by Holland, off the latter’s own bowling. At 18 he gave another chance, and when he was trying to celebrate his escape his would-be sixer dropped short into Bernau’s hands.

Grayson survived two confident- appeals for catches behind the wickets and Cheevers one. Wanganui’s fielding was very smart, Dempster shining. Fast bowlers like Eernau were not as effective as expected, owing to the fairly true wicket and the batsmen taking no risks. Though the extras totalled 15, nearly all were leg byes. Harris kept wickets splendidly, dismissing Kingston and Crombie smartly. WangSnui took 35 minutes to make 17 runs, treating both Clarke and Petty with great respect. Many balls completely beat the batsmen. The crowd, keenly expectant of big things from Dempster, were disappointed to see him dismissed in Clarke’s first over. Petty sent Orr’s stump flying with almost a yorKer. Local opinion in the Press and otherwise Is that Wanganui is a team without a tail, and in spite of the bad start will probably make a big score, ae there are a number of good batsmen to come. The team is generally recognised as being the strongest Wanganui combination yet to play in a Hawke Cup match. The indications are that the match will extend to Monday unless the wicket cracks up badly to-morrow. Commenting on the play the selector, Mr. Ongley, remarked: “You nominated Kingston as wicketkeeper. He is a classic bat.” The details are:— TARANAKI. First Innings. Nasmith, not out 9 1 Grayson, b Bernau 11 Lay, b Holland 17 Kingston, c Harris, b Dr. Williams 64 Crombie, c Harris, b Bernau 0 Clarke, c Bernau, b Dr. Williams .. 18 ’* Bottriil, b Bernau 24 Cole, c Orton, b Dr. Hutchison 8 Cheevers, b Holland 17 Petty, 1.b.w., b Dr. Williams 1 Wilson, b Holland .- 4 Extras pj Total ISS

Bowling analysis.—Bernau took three wickets for 29 runs; Holland, three for 43; Wells, none for 37; Dr. Williams, three for 37; Treadwell, none for 12; Dr. Hutchison, one for 16. WANGANUI. First Innings. Dempster, 1.b.w., b Clarke 1 Orr, b Petty 13 Extras 3 Total (for two wickets) 17 Bowling analysis.—Clarke took one wicket for four runs; Petty, one for 10.