CRICKET

Wairarapa Times-Age, 6 April 1938, Page 2

CRICKET

BIDWILL CUP. NOTES ON SATURDAY'S GAME.

(By

"Blue and Gold").

The final match for the Bidwill Cup was commenced on the Wairarapa College ground on Saturday under ideal conditions and on a satisfactory wicket. The scoring was only of a moderate character, the bowling being good, and the fielding very keen. Lansdowne had first use of the wicket, but the three first batsmen were disposed of with the score at 28. Mainly through the vigorous hitting of Stan Brice, a better complexion was put upon the face of things.

Brice's 34 was compiled in that characteristic style which in his younger days made him the terror of bowlers in first grade cricket in New Zealand. Long past the average prime of cricketers, Brice retains a freshness in his batting and a deadliness in his bowling which has been one of the bright features of this season’s cricket in the Wairarapa. He hit five 4’s, and a 6, and the College team were grateful to Hendry for holding the catch off Andrew which sent “Sixer” back to the pavilion.

It is when his team is in need of runs that Vern Greer has a penchant for “coming to light” with a valuable contribution, and on Saturday his 27 assisted the Lansdowne score towards a fair total. He made a number of excellent shots, and placed the ball neatly between the fieldsmen. Twice he found the boundary, and also hit a 6, as well as three 2’s.

Arthur Whiteman is always a quick scorer, and he brought his score up to 25 by meahs of five 4’s, a 2 and three singles. He drove very effectively.

Dave Groves played a good bat for his 20, exhibiting more patience, perhaps, than usual, and only finding the boundary once.

Stubbings seemed set again for another good score, but on reaching the "devil’s number” he was bowled by Patrick with a good ball.

Andrew, who has been bowling consistently well this season, came out with an average of 3 for 5. He sent down five overs, and his last two wickets cost only two runs, taken in his fifth over.

Massey and Patrick bore the brunt of the attack, each sending down twelve overs. Massey bowled three maidens, and his 3 wickets cost 14.3 runs each. Patrick had one maiden over in his bowling analysis, and his four- wickets cost ten runs apiece.

The College team did not open its innings too promisingly, only 14 being upon the scoring board when the first wicket fell. However, Andrew and Massey, and then Massey and Patrick, improved the position until at the drawing of stumps College were in a fair way to head the Lansdowne

Massoy played excellent cricket in putting together 32, though he was more subdued than usual. However, the excellent fielding of the suburban team robbed him of many shots which would probably in the ordinary course of events have gone to the boundary. For Massey to have scored only two boundaries, even in a total of only 30, was something unusual for a batsman who knows how to put sting into his shots. Bowling and fielding, however, were such that no liberties could be taken.

Patrick (27 not out) played many pretty strokes and this player and Andrew should "make good” in bigger cricket in the future. Patrick included two 4’s and a 3 in his total, while Andrew notched one boundary in his 15, made as one of the opening batsmen.