CRICKET

Wairarapa Age, 17 March 1927, Page 2

CRICKET

PLAY AND PLAYERS. (BY “SPECTATOR.”) The match, between United and Carterton, which has an important bearing or. the result of the championship, was confcnenced at Carterton last Saturday, and the end of the day’s play found Carterton with the useful advantage of a lead of 69 runs on the first innings. Winning the toss, United elected to bat first, but made a most disastrous start. In a very few minutes four of their leading batsmen were out, and the score-sheet only recorded 15 runs. The dismissed batsmen were A. and F. Hoar, Patrick and Voyce, and as three at least are usually the main contiibutors to United’s totals the visitors, prospects looked far from bright. However, the United tail rose to the occasion, and with only two exceptions the remaining batsmen all notched double figures, and the final total of 112, moderate though it was, was much better than at one time appeared probable. In being dropped off his first ball, Penner -was the first to break the spell of ill-luck that was dogging the United batsmen, and in association with O’Dowd saw the half-century hoisted. R. Booth broke the partnership by taking a magnificent catch in the longfield off a big hit by O’Dowd —one of the best the writer has ever seen. Booth had to sprint to get to the ball, which he scooped up almost off the ground with a headlong dive. O’Dowd, who had scored 21, was soon followed by Renner, who skied Whitburn into Hart’s hands after notching 19. ' if J Bundle, who also scored 19, was giving a glimpse of something like his true form till his old habit of stepping in front of his wicket and trying to pull straight balls to leg again itself, and Phelps was again given the umpire’s verdict. The total was still short of 80, and it appeared improbable at this stage that the century would bo reached. The ninth wicket stand between Madsen and Preston, however, added a valuable 40 runs before the partnership was unfortunately broken by Preston running himself out. Both batsmen played very steadily, using good judgment in waiting for the right ball to score off. f As usual, Whitburn was erratic, but found the right spot more often than he generally does and his four wickets ■ for 56 included the cream of United’s batting. Newbould also got two good wickets at a cost of 25 runs, i Phelps (1 for 17) -was just as accurate as ever, but his bowling appeared to lack ( its usual ginger, most of the batsmen finding him easy to stop, but more difficult to score off. Carterton also started their batting far from brilliantly, Phelps, Suckling and Smart going for next to nothing. Whitburn, however, established himself, and when he became associated with Newbould the score began to jump. * ‘ Curly ’ ’ started cautiously, but soon opened out, and chiefly by means of hard driving, put together 44 before F. Boar swung a trimmer past him. Though giving no actual chances : Whitburn put several uppish shots through the slips, which had the good fortune to find a clear passage. Newbould was not too comfortable for a start, but as he got his eye in, laid on the wood to good advantage, and in one burst of energy smote two sixes and two fours off successive balls from Renner. Jim had 45 on the slate, when, in jumping out to Patrick, was stumped by a rebound off Voyce’s pads. Bob Booth showed that he can play good cricket when he sets his mind to it, and it is a pitty that as a general rule this player does not take his play more seriously. Jn scoring his 23 ho made some splendid forward strokes, and being quite comfortable against anything sent down to him, United Were lucky in getting him out on a run out decision. Bert McKenzie tackled the bowling like a man with a grievance and, smiting hard and effectively at practically everything sent down to him, had an eventful innings for 29, mostly made up by boundaries. Fairbrother, like most left-handers, showed a great partiality for anything he couid pull ’to leg and got most of his 13 by dragging O’Dowd. The bowser, however, finally got his revenge when the batsman missed one, and retired in response to a confident appeal. / F. Hoar was the most successful bowler, his figures being 4 for 33. He kept most of the batsmen quiet, Booth being the only one to play him win any great degree of confidence. He bowled Whitburn when the latte/ was well set with a practically unplayable ball.

A. Hoar (2 for 31) . was next in order of merit. Ho also bowled well •at times, but the intervals between the good ones, were too long.

O’Dowd (2 for 31) was very ordinary, and Patrick (1 for 42) and Renner (0 for 24) were decidedly disappointing, and were well below their true form.

As matters stand at present, Carterton have an excellent chance of securing at least a win on the first innings, but owing to the fact that they are three behind United in championship points, and that only e, straightout win will give them the chance of a play-off for the championship, the southern team will probably take all the sporting risks there are offering, and next Saturday’s play should bo bright and full of interest. Cormack’s score of 216 for High School in the junior match against Carterton is, I understand, a record individual score for any grade of cricket in the Wairarapa, beating Dowson’s record of 206 (made about 25 years ago. when playing for an English

touring team, against the Wairarapa representatives) and C. Miles’ 196 (playing for the Mastertwn Club against Cartcrtdn in a senior competi tion match). Other big scores made in Wairarapa cricket include: A. Hoar’s 181 (playing for United against Mar tinborough this season), Dave Logan’s 162 (playing for Masterton against Carlton in 1912), Davo Collins’s 150 (playing for Wairarapa against Manawatu in defence of the Hawke Cup a few- years ago/, and Bob Gee’s 150 not out against Featherston and 143 against United, both of which were made this season as a member of the Old Boys Club.