CRICKET VICTORY

Waikato Times, Volume 124, Issue 20733, 17 February 1939, Page 9

CRICKET VICTORY

ENGLISH VISITORS WIN STEADY WAIKATO ATTACK KEEN FIELDING DISPLAYED DEMPSTER IN BATTING FORM Securing a margin of 173 runs on the first innings with two wickets still in hand at stumps. Sir Julien Cahn’s English cricket eleven defeated the Waikato team at Seddon Park yesterday. The home team’s initial strike was almost completed at stumps on Wednesday, and yesterday morning the last wicket fell five minutes after Ihe resumption of play, and with the total at 131. The English side was not set a x’ery difficult, task with the wicket playing well and Ihe outfield fast, but the steady attack launched by the Waikato bowlers, who were aided by a strong cross wind, forced them to look to their defence, while the Waikato fielding, which was far keener than it had been in any Hawke Gup match this season, compelled the visitors to fight, for runs until they secured their position. However, at the end of Hie day they had on the board 304 for eight.. Had the tailenders not. come to light with some sound batting the English team’s total would not have been so imposing, for apart from a fine opening innings by Dempster their regular batsmen did not do as well as had been expected. Hardstaff Uneasy When facing Clough and Bright Hardstaff seemed uncomfortable and his scoring was noticeably slow. Clough also kept Dempster quiet with balls which rose deceptively, and his eighth over was the only maiden bowled up to this stage. Dempster collected three off Bright and took the side to 97, and in the same over brought up the century with a six close to the sight screen. The fast attack was again resorted to when Everest replaced Bright at the railway end. Dempster sent the new bowler’s sixth ball for four to take his own score to 60 and the side to 110. Hardstaff was inclined to be impetuous against Clough, and he could not connect, a rising ball well on the off eventually accounting for him. He made a wild attempt to square-cut it, hut lifted the ball over Bright’s head, the fieldsman turning and holding an awkward catch. One of the most attractive innings of the afternoon was played by Oldfield, who joined Dempster at this stage. He displayed perfect footwork and amazing power in his wrists, with the result that, his scoring shots were executed with precision. Oldfield lost Dempster not long after coming to the crease. Clough had sent down 12 overs for 22 runs and two wickets, and his next turn with the ball saw him completely beat Dempster with a delivery to which the batsman played a defensive stroke, but did not prevent, it taking the off stump. 134—4—64. Englishmen Ahead Waikato’s first-innings total had been passed when Maxwell came in. His wicket went down quickly, Going being the successful trundler: 144 s—B. A brace to Oldfield past, the bowler put 150 on the hoard. He and Mudge were not finding conditions altogether to their liking, the keen fielding of the home team keeping them on the defensive si good deal and it was some time before 170 was reached. Seven runs later the game was adjourned for tea, Oldfield (31) and Mudge (14) being still together.

Upon the resumption of play Everest replaced Clough at the pavilion end. and Oldfield snicked one on the off into Skfeet’s hands, but the wicketkeeper dropped the ball, and in spite

of a gallant attempt failed to recover it. A few balls later Oldfield sent a hard chance back to Everest, whose dive for it was too late. Oldfield’s dismissal was unfortunate. Mudge played a ball hard to Bright at midoff and called, but the fieldsman retrieved the leather smartly, returned it to Skeet, and Mudge sent his partner back. Oldfield failed to reach his crease before Going received the ball from the 'keeper and threw down the wicket. 184—6—32. Phillipson and .Mudge were together with the total at 200. The new ball was then brought into play and proved troublesome, Mudge eventually losing his wicket to Everest: 201—7—29. Smith Bats Well Smith, low down nn the list, shaped well. and. with Phillipson. put the English side 100 runs ahead of "Waikato. Roth were playing the bowling confidently, hut Everest had Smith when lie deceived him with a goodlength ball on the leg stump: 233 8 — 22. The score reached 250 when Lisselte was brought on at the pavilion end to replace Everest, but the batsmen pounded him mercilessly. 3 1 corning .»ff four overs. Clough was then brought back in Hie ho r ,r* of breaking the partnership between Lush ami Phillipson. but the change did not. prove effective. The batsmen provided a fine stand cat this late stage, Phillipson displaying a variety of shots in reaching his half-centurv

while Lush, although slower, made few mistakes in getting his 30. The third hundred had just been passed when the bell announced the conclusion of play, leaving the game in the hands of the visitors by a wide margin. Scores— WAIKATO—First Innings 131 SIR J. CAHN’S ELEVEN First Innings C. S. Dempster, b Clough 64 A. It. Dyson, c Going, b Clough . . It G. F. 11. Deane, lbw. b Bright. . . 24 J. Hardstaff, c Bright, b Clough 6 N. Oldfield, run out 32 G. R. Maxwell, b Going 8 H. Mudge. b Everest 29 W. E. Phillipson. not out 52 T. P. R. Smith, b Everest 22 J. G. Lush, not out 33 Extras 23 Total for eight wickets 304 J. E. Walsh did not hat) Fall of Wickets—One for 4 1, two for 83. three for 117. four for 135, five for 144, six for 184, seven for 201, eight for 233.

CROWDS AT PARK

OVER 1000 ADMITTED TAKINGS EXCEED AUCKLAND Yesterday 1031 paid for admission to SeddOn Park to see the match between Waikato and Sir Julien Cahn's English cricket eleven. The takings for the day amounted to £sl lis, which exceeded the sum secured' in Auckland when the team played there at the beginning of th*e week. On the two days the Waikato Cricket Association collected £7B 12s. The vast crowd of spectators‘which lined the banks at the. park and the rows of cars deinonst rapid the growing interest in the game in this district.

E. Everest .. Bowling 0. M. R. W. 20 1 72 2 H. Going: 23 0 70 1 R. Clough . . 19 2 4'. 3 P. Bright . . . 11 0 48 1 A. Lissette . . 4 0 31 0 A. .1. Aitken ..2 0 7 0 Messrs L. F Casey and A. Roberson were the umpires.