SENSATIONAL CRICKET

Wairarapa Times-Age, 21 February 1939, Page 3

SENSATIONAL CRICKET

SPLENDID BOWLING BY F. HOAR Red Star’s Fast Scoring OLD BOYS’ SPORTING SPIRIT (By “Blue & Gold.”)

In both the senior championship games on Saturday there were exciting finishes. In one case Red Stars obtained the necessary runs for a win in a fast-scoring finish, while in the other Wairarapa College just failed to reach victory. Frank Hoar’s Fine Bowling. The finish of the Red Star-Old Boys match was of a sensational character. With a lead of 81 runs on the first innings the odds were very much in favour of Old Boys and it was generally anticipated that the latter would win. But once again the great uncertainty of cricket was demonstrated. In the Old Boys’ second innings at one stage the position actually was that Old Boys had 4 wickets down with a lead of 135 runs. Then Frank Hoar, who was bowling well, got properly, “into his stride.” He took 4 wickets for 12 runs, and finished off a most sensational performance by taking the last three wickets—Logan, Ramsay, and Lendrum.—in successive balls, the innings closing for 71. He bowled 6.3 overs, one of which was a maiden. He secured his last 5 wickets for 2 runs. It is the intention of the Red Star Club to present Frank Hoar with the ball with an engraved silver plate attached to mark his feat of doing the hat trick. Newman Hoar bowled better than his figures show, while Renner had hard luck bowling dead on the wicket, one ball hitting the bail but failing to dislodge it, while bad fielding accounted for nearly all the runs scored off him. Hammering the Bowling. With about an hour and 45 minutes to play and requiring 153 runs required to win the task appeared to the supporters of the Stars to be a feat beyond the powers of the team to accomplish. But Bell in particular came out of his shell, and going in first with W. Peterson made the pace. Bell got down on to the bowling in great style, hitting two 6’s in succession, and, ably supported by Peterson, 64 was on the board when the latter was disposed of. Pool joined Bell, and runs came even faster, both laying on the wood and raising the score to 121 before Pool went. Bell and N. Hoar continued the good work, Bell going at 147 for a splendidly compiled 72, being splendidly caught by Jack Renner, who fielded* as substitute for Old Boys. Bell hit two 6’s and nine 4’s. N. Hoar and G. Peterson put the result beyond doubt ten minutes before the call of time. Frank’ Pool played good cricket for his runs which included five 4’s. Newman Hoar’s good strike included two 4’s and a 3, while Wally Peterson had three 4’s. in his score. Lendrum bowled particularly well for Old Boys and no liberties could be taken with his bowling. He secured 2 wickets for 15 runs. A Sporting Action. The sporting action of the Old Boys captain, Jack Logan, in dispensing with the afternoon tea adjournment really made possible the victory of the Stars, as otherwise the Stars would have failed to score the runs in the time available if the afternoon tea adjournment had been taken. When time came for the afternoon tea adjournment Old Boys were batting, having 44 up for 3 wickets.

The Proper Cricket Spirit. The Old Boys deserve the heartiest .congratulations for their splendid first innings effort against the Red Star team. Playing a sporting game their lead over their opponents of 81 runs brought appreciative remarks from the spectators who congregate each Saturday to watch the games. Foremost among those who extended their congratulations to the Red Stars on their win were the Old Boys players who are on particularly friendly terms with the Red Star cricketers. The Old Boys are noted for the sporting manner in which they always play the game, and win or lose, it is all the same to them, as they are out to enjoy a game of cricket, give pleasure to others and take what wins come their way with becoming modesty. In the face of adverse circumstances the Old Boys always resolutely meet the position

cheerfully and hopefully, always “dying game." It is in this spirit that the game of cricket should be played and both the Old Boys and the Red Star teams have displayed this trait in their matches. It has sometimes been a difficult matter for Old Boys to field a full team but this has never made any difference to their spirit, as they go on the field confident that as far as they are concerned they will give their opponents a “good go” for it. striving to set that example which is associated with those who always try to live up to the maxim, "play the game.” Small First Innings Score. Red Star’s first innings closed at 107 and of this total W. Peterson (22). Lambourne (13) and Coleman (10) got their runs on the previous Saturday. O'Kane (a newcomer from Palmerston North) was the only double-figure scorer on Saturday and shaped very well for 15 which included a 4 and a 3. Good Bowling. ; Barr <4 for 16) and Ryan (3 for 36) bore the brunt of the Old Boys’ attack in the first innings, both bowling exceptionally well and being substantially assisted by a good fielding combination. Ryan, besides being an excellent batsman, is an outstanding fieldsman and a particularly useful bowler in the team. George Barr, with a record of 33 years cricket to his credit, can still tie up the batsmen with' his deliveries. He bowls with a cunningness gained by long experience among all classes of players, and he can still cleverly hide the “wrong un.” An Exciting Finish. Lansdowne declaring in the second innings at 4 for 72, giving them a lead of 156 runs, provided College with a sporting chance to win, and the finish was of an exciting nature, College failing, on account of lack of time, by 21 runs to score a victory. In declaring Lansdowne adopted the right policy as it was apparently their only chance of gaining an eight-point win, while on the other hand it was a sporting action which gave College the opportunity to secure the victory if they were capable of accomplishing this. The finish of the game certainly provided plenty of exciting moments as the score mounted up and the minutes slipped away. But Father Time was not on the side of the College team who had a five-point win recorded against them. Good Batting. The first innings of the College saw good batting displayed by Hibbs, Tooby and McFarlane. Hibbs included four 4’s in his score, while Tooby notched two 4’s, and McFarlane a similar number. O’Callaghan on the Wicket. O’Callaghan bowled very well indeed. His five wickets cost a little of 4 runs apiece and he was dead on the wicket most of the time. Arthur Whiteman also bowled well, taking 4 wickets in good style. Well Placed Shots by Groves. Lansdowne closed its second innings for 72 for 4. Of these Groves obtained 28 by well placed shots and his score included two 4’s and four 2’s. Greer and W. Whiteman both showed good batting, but each fell at the “devil’s number.” Good Fighters. Wairarapa College proved themselves good fighters in a strenuous finish. Upston staged one of the best displays he has given in senior cricket and scored runs nicely all round the wicket. Batting steadily and determinedly he contributed chiefly to the splendid showing of the College team. His 45 included three 4’s and four 2’s. Another very fine innings was that by Taylor. This youthful batsman should develop into a substantial scorer of runs as he has a splendid idea of how to play shots and is keen on the game of cricket. On Saturday he put on an excellent display under exciting conditions. His 33 included three 4’s, a 3 and three 2’s. Hibbs played a steady bat for 18 (not out) which included three 2’s.