CRICKET OPENING

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20950, 1 November 1939, Page 4

CRICKET OPENING

80UTH PIAKO MATCHES

PLAY IN HAMILTON SEVERAL BRIGHT DISPLAYS TED EVEREST IN FORM (By “Spectator”) Honours Board Batting.—S. A. R. Badeley (Hamilton East) 64, H. Going (Hamilton East) 44, S. E. Senior (Old Boys) 34, E. Everest (Hamilton) 28 not out, P. Bright (Hamilton East) 27, O. Harding (Old Boys) 25 not out. Bowling.—R. Clough (Old Boys) four for 22, A. J. Aitken (Old Boys) three for 24, A. Lissette (Hamilton) three for 25; T. Lyon (Claudelands) three for 68.

The opening of the Hamilton cricket season on Saturday was favoured with fine weather with the wickets in reasonably good order for so early in the season. A cold wind, however, made conditions rather unpleasant for players and spectators. The outfield was surprisingly slow and the ball pulled up very quickly unless it had real pace on when it hit the ground. The feature of the games was the form disolayed by the older Hamilton players, and, although the representative matches are still a long way off it does not appear as if there will be many changes in the Waikato team from last season unless some members fail to maintain their last year’s form. Generally speaking the cricket for the first day was very interesting, and if the improvement anticipated as the season progresses does eventuate, much brighter play should be seen.

Bert Badeley Again The outstanding cricketer in the Waikato for more than a decade has been Bert Badeley, who has captained many Hamilton and Waikato teams. He definitely proved his class by again top-scoring on opening day, and playing his shots with a certainty and vigour that other players could well copy. He was sighting the ball well and, by the way he was going, looked as if he would score yet another century in club cricket but he was dismissed when in sight of his goal. His dismissal caused some comment but the umpire was the man in the best position to see and he held that Hemi steadied the ball long enough for it to be a catch. Besides Badeley, S. E. Senior and H. Going, two other oldtimers, were amongst the runs. Senior was in really fine form towards the end of last season and has started this season very promisingly. His display was sound with some good shots. Going again pleased the crowd by his hard hitting and it appears as if he will be as popular with the enthusiasts on the bank as ever.

In Fine Form Ted Everest, one of the mainstays of the Waikato team, was in fine form on Saturday. He saved his side, from a very poor showing by hitting up a bright 28 undefeated while his bowling was accurate and took a great deal of watching. He hit three sixes,—one from Reg Clough and two from Aitken—while with the new ball his pace off the pitch and swerve, coupled*with accurate length, gave him a good double. He is still one of the best all round players in Hamilton. Ted has two brothers playing for Hamilton now and young left-hander Jim showed encouraging form, but Dick, in his first game for two seasons, was too impatient. A. Lissette started off very brightly but had bad luck failing to get on to a full toss, while Sandford, this year’s captain of Hamilton, ducked a fulltoss which dropped quickly and took his leg bail.

Excellent Bowling R. Clough proved himself to be the best bowler in Hamilton last year and he maintained that form on Saturday to secure four for 22 despite being hit for a six by Ted Everest. His batting was disappointing last season but he has the ability to do well. J. West, who did so well in his first Hawke Cup last season, again opened for Old Boys. He seemed to be sighting the ball well and was hitting it in the centre of the bat. He kept Ted Everest’s deliveries out for a quarter of an hour but was a trifle impatient and failed to get properly on to his first real scoring shot. O. Harding made a promising start for his new club with a \Vell played 25 not out, while Aitken was not troubled in making 17 before' he was caught. Strong Batting Sic*e Hamilton East’s . batting looked very strong against kClaudelands on Saturday but it must be taken into consideration that tire Claudelands team was very' short and there was no variety in the attack. The absence of M. Lyon, C. * Hunt and Roberts left T. Lyon, Hertoi and Ewan to do all the bowling. ] They all bowl semi-fast stuff with} little variation and the batsmen hajd every opportunity to show their Worth. Bill Cassidy made a re-app«arance in Hamilton cricket and nftade some nice shots before being (caught and he should be an acquisition to the representative team. P. Joright again disolayed stylish stroking with Phil Jordan also impressmg. With Badeley and Going amonpst the runs it was not surprising thdt East had

easily the best score of the day. The scoring was slow, except for Badeley and Going, and more runs should have been put on under the circumstances. In Poor Position Claudelands, who performed very well at the end of last season, look certain to lose its first match. The team was very short of players and unless the position improves Claudelands may lose their former position. The team was in the field all day on Saturday and it was not very impressive. The bowling was not hostile, though Lyon was a model of accuracy, and the fielding was, at times, very poor. However, it is not very encouraging for any team to battle on with only half the regular players there and the team may be expected to make a better showing , later.

RESULTS AT MATAMATA (Special to Times) MATAMATA, Monday The cricket season was opened In Matamata on Saturday, when the South section of the Piako Cricket ssoriatlon commenced Its competition, Tour garner being played on Bedford Park. Glorious weather prevailed, and play was or a Tair average standard for an opening day. Following are details:—

Wardvllle v. Hinuera Wardvllle 165 (‘McKearney 10, A. Hughes 83, J. Hawkins 23, B. Sheat 15, B. Bart- i leet 10 not out) v. Hinuera 75 (Barnett 20, Stewart 12, 11. Johnston 15). Bowling for Hinuera, Barnett 3 lor 5, Oldfield 1 for 20, Hathway 3 for 51, Stewart l for 35, Canne-11 l for 21, Mcßurney l for 6; for Wardvllle, A. Hughes 4 for 20. A. Newsome 1 for 28, McKearney 1 for 13. Gordon v. Waharoa Gordon 107 (S. Brooks 16, A. Bartleet 10, H. Udy 53) v. Waharoa 37 (H. Lennox 11). Bowling: For Waharoa, F. Scholium 1 for 18, J. Lewis 2 for 36, R. Sharpe 5 for 20; for Gordon, F. Montague 2 for 11, H. Udy 3 for 5, P. Harvey l for 15, V. Clark 1 for l. Okauia v. Wairoro Okaula 91 (J. Taylor 12, V. Booth 14, J. Thompson 21, D. McLennan 17 not out) v. Walrere 110 (M. Malone 58, R. Hill 21). Bowling for Wairere, Eccles l for 18, J. Malone 1 for 33, Shirley 2 for 20, W. Baxendine 4 lor 11, M. Malone l for 2; lor Okaula, Sutton 3 for 25, Fuller 2 for 22, Sullivan 1 for 17. <• Matamata v. Old Boy* Matamata 146 (Simpson 16, Miles 35, Jones 43, Grimms 20) v. Old Boys 122 (K. Beaver 5 5 not out, Simpson 11, Hamilton 18, Vosper 12). Bowling lor Old Boys, Hamilton 2 for 30, Scott 4 lor 33, Dawson, 1 lor 42, Mulholland 3 for 24.