EXCITING FINISH

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 44, 22 February 1939, Page 8

EXCITING FINISH

Sir Julien Cahn’s Team At Palmerston MINOR ASSOCIATIONS AVERT INNINGS DEFEAT HARDSTAFF WINS AND LOSES MATCH f Per Press Association.] PALMERSTON N., Feb. 21. The match between Sir Julien Cahn’s touring team and the Minor Associations was concluded at the Palmerston North Sportsground today in delightful weather, and before a very big gallery of spectators. It resulted in a draw, Minor Associations averting the innings defeat by the narrowest of margins. When the game finished the Associations, who had made 206 in their first knock, had their last batsmen at the wickets, and they were still 93 runs short of the tourists’ first innings total of 418. It was an exciting end to a very interesting game, and Sir Julien Cahn, who bowled the last over, very nearly brought about the outright win when, with his first delivery, he tempted Pritchard to hit out and Pritchard hit the ball to Hardstaff at coverpoint. Hardstaff unexpectedly failed to accept the chance. It was a day of sudden changes. To begin with, Pritchard immediately struck a length and took two wickets with successive balls. Then Hardstaff, who was definitely after runs, and Smith became associated in a bright partnership which added 96 runs in double-quick time. At the luncheon adjournment lhe score was 309 and Hardstaff and Watts were scoring at the rate of two runs a minute. They were making the bowling look very simple, but there was another sensation when Gallichan clean-bowled Hardstaff with the first ball for the afternoon. The ball, well flighted, travelled slowly through the air and dipped suddenly. Hardstaff reached forward and was beaten by the break. He had made 160 and it was a real batsman’s innings. He went in at a time when the game was swinging against his team, but he dug in and declined to take any risks on the first day. He gave an exhibition of scientific run-getting. To-day he was more forceful and he scored at a fast rate with delightful shots all round the wk-ket. His partnership with Watts was the answer to a cricket enthusiast’s prayer. When he had been dismissed Watts carried on the good work until he misjudged one from Meuli and was out, caught by the ’keeper. The innings closed for 418 and Minor Associations were left with the task of keeping their Innings alive for two hours and some 10 minutes. With three wickets down for seven they made a disastrous start. Four more were down with the addition of only 30 runs, and the position was desperate. Then Peterson (from the Wairarapa), Gallichan and Norris all made invaluable stands, and when stumps were drawn there was still one wicket in hand.

The wicket was faster than on Monday, and the fast bowlers, particularly Pritchard and Watts, were much more impressive. Scores are as follow: Sir Julien Cahn’s XL First Innings Mudge, c Gallichan, b Pritchard 12 Dyson, b Pritchard 2 Jackson, 1.b.w., b Murchison 6 Oldfield, st. Norris, b Gallichan 37 Phillipson. b Pritchard 29 Lush, b Pritchard 0 Smith, c Reaney, b Meuli 34 Watts, not out B 0 Hardstaff, b Gallichan 100 Walsh, c Norris, b Meu’i Good way, b Meuli 4 Sir Julien Cahn, c Evans, b McCoy Extras 15 Total 41S Bowling.—Pritchard, four for 89: Murchison, one for 74; Gallichan, two for 66: Reaney, none for 108: McCoy, one for 24: Meuli, three for 42. Minor Associations First Innings 2 06 Second Innings McVicar, run out 3 Robertson, c Jackson, b Watts 1 Evans, b Watts ........... 2 Murchison, h Watts Peterson, b Walsh 24 Reaney, run out 4 Turbott. b Smith McCoy, b Smith 0 Gallichan, b Watts - 16 Norris, not. out Meuli, b Watts 4 Pritchard, not out •’ Extras Total, for ten wickets 119 Bowling.—Watts, five for 37; Jackson, none for 7; Smith, two for 25: Walsh, one for 23; Lush, none for 1; Mudge, none for 2; Sir Julien Cahn, none for 7.