O. McKenzie’s Great Innings BEST SCORE TO DATE

Waikato Times, Volume 124, Issue 20729, 13 February 1939, Page 4

O. McKenzie’s Great Innings

BEST SCORE TO DATE

CENTURY JUST MISSED HAMILTON CLUB CRICKET BETTER ALL-ROUND BATTING A line innings of 92 by 0. McKenzie, the best score to date in Hamilton Senior A cricket, was a feature of the games at Seddon Park on Saturday. Although marred by an early blemish, McKenzie’s was a beautifully fluent display of correct cricket and an object lesson in aggressive batting. He provided the major contribution to Hamilton’s total of 234 —their best this season. E. Everest was also in form, and though less cautious than McKenzie he was responsible for an entertaining 57. Rowling on a wicket which favoured the batsmen. Graham was Old Boys’ most successful bowler, with four wickets for «8 runs. He was able to nip off the pitch at times, anil this, cr.iipled with a good length, worried most of Hie batsmen. Old Boys started well and. assisted by a large total of extras, finished the fiav with 70 runs for'one wicket. Ait ken was unfortunate to go in the last Over after a confident showing. A last-wicket stand by Hunt (43) and Ilemi 'l9 not out) saw’ Claudelands finish in a more favourable position than seemed likely earlier in the afternoon in their match with Hamilton East on No. 1 wicket. In reply Hamilton East lost a wicket for 17 runs. At a fortunate stage Hunt produced his best form for several weeks. Hampton and Lyon held Hamilton East In check early, the former contributing h. somewhat risky 25 and the latter a solid 27. Ewan was forceful in adding 28 in quick time. In securing four wickets for 51 Going could usually command respect. while Dawson proved a useful foil at the other end. BEST THIS SEASON HAMILTON’S BATTINQ FORM Mckenzie misses century As & result of bright batting by McKenzie, E. Everest and V. Bary, Hamilton compiled their best total this season with 234 on the board when the last wicket fell. After having a life early, when he was dropped behind by Senior off Clough, McKenzie appeared likely to score the first hundred In Senior A cricket to date, only to fall by eight runs. Beautiful easy "strokes all round the wicket characterised his Innings, in which he scored 12 fours. Although not chanceless, E. Everest’s 57 was a good display of powerful hitting, which Included three sixes and six fours. Going in late in the Innings, V. Bary showed himself to be a very promising young player -who w’as not afraid to come out to anything which deserved hitting. He was unfortunate In being run out by & perfect return from Higginson. On a wicket which favoured the batsmen Graham got through a heavy day with the creditable average of four wickets for 48 runs. Throughout he kept a good length and it w r as never possible to take liberties with him. Aitken took a valuable wicket, but was not in use for long spells. Paced with a big task, Old Boys started very promisingly when Aitken and West put on 09 runs in an opening partnership. In the first few overs they went very carefully, but once settled they sent along the score at a brisk pace and were seldom troubled by the bowling. McKenzie Dropped Runs came fairly freely in the first two overs of Hamilton’s innings, but then Clough completely beat Lissette. McKenzie, after being dropped early, off Clough, got going quickly, taking five runs off Clough’s second over. Another four and two singles gave McKenzie double figures. The score mounted to 40. when Hansen was brought on in place of Bramwell, who had been the bowler at the southern end. Clough continued to operate from the other end, and though he kept J. Everest quiet, McKenzie handled him confidently. Graham then took over from Clough, hut It was Hansen who broke what looked like becoming a troublesome partnership when he clean bowled Everest. McKenzie then got one away nicely to the boundary and 50 came on the board. In lifting one to leg McKenzie steered it dangerously close to Hlgginson, but the fieldsman did not move smartly enough. After being in a comparatively sound position Hamilton suffered a reverse when Harding became Hansen's second victim. 5 4 —3—2. E. Everest, after opening by placing a ball dangerously near Clough in the slips off Hansen, commenced fo attack the bowling of Graham, and secured two fours in one over. In the next. McKenzie cut Hansen hard to the fence to brinir up his 50. He then lifted the same bowler to the on for four. Hope was given his first over, replacing Graham, but Everest got him away nleely to the fine-log boundary and the hundred came up. At the other end Clough came on again and kept the hatsmen nuieter. Opening his shoulders beautifully in Hope’s next over. Everest sent the ball high over the on boundary, but two balls later should have be*-n out when he sent up a comparatively easy catch to Aitken at deep mid-off. which the fieldsman failed to accept. Everest Hits Out This let-off did not subdue Everest, who proceeded to take a six and a four oif the next over from Clough. Another six to Everest off Hope brought up 130 in fast time, and the tea adjournment was taken with the score at. lit, McKenzie being 71 and Everest 47. Shortly after resuming Everest reached 50. After a very bright knock Everest's innings came to an end wh n he was all over one .from Graham. 160—i —57. Continuing his polished baiting. McKenzie got to within striking distance of his hundred when he cot Hansen away twice to the boundin' in one over. Finlay failed to stay, being sent back by a good ball from Graham A sensation followed when Sandford placed forward to the next ball and was beaten. 170—0—0. Avery averted a “ hat-trick,” and the next

three overs were played out quietly. With his score at 90 McKenzie faced Aitken for the first time in the match, lie played out the over quietly, but in Aitken’s next over went for a big hit and was bowled, with his score just eight runs short of the century. Avery appeared to be getting set when he was beaten by a ball from Graham, who right through had been troubling the batsmen. Bary and Gick were then associated, the former bringing 200 on the board by hooking Higginson to the leg boundary. Another four and then a six were taken off successive balls by Bary, who was shaping confidently for a newcomer to senior cricket. Brilliant Return Clough returned'to the crease after a long spell and Hope replaced Graham at the other end. Gick was tempted out off Hope and skied the ball into the safe hands of Fraser. Pedrotti opened his account with a six to the long field off Hope. He followed this by a four in the next over from the slow bowler. A flashing return bv W. Higginson.at mid-off shattered the wickets and Bary was caught out of his crease as the batsmen attempted a short single, Hamilton s innings closing for 234.

Going to the wickets with 90 minutes of play remaining, Old Boys’ opening pair, Aitken and West, were content to let the runs come. Twenty was on the board in 40 minutes. Finlay then came on in place of Lissette, who, with E.. Everest, had opened the bowling. Off his third ball West was fortunate to escape trouble when he swung hard and the ball just cleared Pedrotti’s head. Using his slow spinner when he came on in place of E. Everest, Lissette had both batsmen tied up. West then relieved a slow ; eriod by glancing Finlay nicely for a single." Aitken whipped Finlay round to the on boundary, and scored a brace and two singles in the next over from Lissette. First 50 and then 60 went up In good time, Aitken then having 26 and West 18. With two more on his score Aitken flicked one off the edge of his bat to McKenzie. Clough and West played out the remaining balls of the over. Details— HAMILTON—First Innings A. F. Lissette. b Clough 5 J. Everest, b Hansen 12 O. McKenzie, b Aitken 92 O. Harding, b Hansen 2 E. Everest, b Graham .. 57 R. Finlay, b Graham 0 K. L. Sandford, b Graham 0 E. Avery, b Graham 15 T. Gick, c Fraser, b 'Hope 8 V. Barv, run out 25 R. Pedrotti, not out 12 Extras 6 Total 234 Bowling—B. Clough took one wicket for 37 runs, Bramwell none for 16, Aitken one for 8, Hansen two for 54, Graham four for 48, Hope one for 48, Higginson none for 10. OLD BOYS—First Innings A. J. Aitken, c McKenzie, b Lissette 29 J. G. West, not out 19 R. Clough, not out 1 Extras 21 Total for one wicket 70 Messrs 3. F. Strang and J. O. Frulsh were the umpires.

sent down a slower one to Hampton. The batsman opened his shoulders to it and mishit, a catch falling just short of Perrett at point. The pair ran through for a single. Carefully watching a shorter ball from T. Sheet, who had replaced Going, M. Lyon hooked it round to tho square-leg boundary to hoist the half-century. Hampton at this stage was 24 and M. Lyon 12. Several quick bowling changes were resorted to, and when Dawson sent down his initial oevr he dismissed Hampton. The batsman was completely beaten by a ridiculously short ball which came inside his bat. 60— 3—25. Dawson’s next delivery kept low and bowled McKinnon, who failed to sight the ball correctly. 60—4—0. Edmonds joined M. Lyon and opened his account with a four. Then he faced Going, but could not connect, and after riskily playing the first six balls he was clean bowled by a fast in-swinger. 71—5 —5. Ewan had just partnered M. Lyon ■when he jumped out to a wellpitched delivery from Bright and Going had to turn for a difficult catch in the slips. He missed the ball and the pair ran a single, which took the tally to 80. Lyon was now 23. When the afternoon tea adjournment was taken Claudelands’ total stood at 90 for five, with M. Lyon and Ewan still batting. Century Passed Soon after the interval Claudelands passed the century. When the total i was 99 M. Lyon lost, his wicket to j Bright. He batted well, although cautiously, for his 27. which was a j useful contribution when runs were | needed. The scoreboard at this stage read 996 —27. Nine runs over the century and Roberts was dismissed by Bright. 109—7—0. Cleave was associated with Ewan for the eighth wicket. The former never looked really safe facing Going, and his end came when the bowler j made a successful appeal for legbefore. 122—8—4. A four to Hunt, who had joined Ewan, put 130 on the board. Shortly after this Ewan chopped down on one from Dawson, but was too late to prevent the ball from taking the off stump. 134—9—28. Claudelands reached 140 with Hunt and Hemi batting confidently. The pair hurried the score along in great style until the. double century was in sight. After notching a four to fine leg off Going Hunt fell victim to a legbefore decision, when the side needed six to complete the 200. Hunt executed his 43 in fine fashion and. with Hemi, who contributed a useful 19, put on 60 for the last wicket. East’s Early Loss East lost their first batsman in the last over of the day, Perrett snicking a ball into the slips. Seventeen runs were on the board at that stage. Scores — CLAUDELANDS —First Innings W. A. Cassells, b Badeley 1 (I. S. Hampton, b Dawson 25 T. I.yon, b Going 7 M. Lyon, lbw, b Bright 27 B. McKinnon, b Dawson 0 D. Edmonds, b Going 5 T 4 A. Ewan, 1) Dawson 28 A. Roberts, b Bright 0 O. Cleave, lbw, b Going 11 G. G. Hunt, lbw, b Going 43 D. Hemi, not out 19 Extras 28 Total 194 Bowling— Going took four wickets for 51 runs, Badeley one for 10, Bright two for 32, T. Skeet none for 24, Perrett none for 10, Dawson three for 28, Harding none for 13. HAMILTON EAST—First Innings J. Perrett, c M. Lyon, b T. Lyon 8 S. A. R. Badeley, not out 9 P. Jordan, not out 0 Total for one wicket 17 Messrs L. F. Casey and A. Rogerson were the umpires.