FINE FORM

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20986, 13 December 1939, Page 14

FINE FORM

R. CLOUGH’S PERFORMANCE HAMILTON CRICKET GAMES BOWLERS HAVE MORE SUCCESS (By “Spectator”) HONOURS BOARD Batting. —R. Clough (Old Boys) 59, N. Ross (Old Boys B) 55, J. D. Bright (Hamilton East) 47, A. McDell (Old Boys B) 47, L. Baldcock (Claudelands B) 45, P. de la Mare (Hamilton B) 45, A. J. Aitken (Old Boys) 42 not out, T. A. Ewan (Claudelands) 33, O. Harding (Old Boys) 31, K. L. Sandford (Hamilton) 26. Bowling. —R. Clough (Old Boys) seven for 24, T. Lyon (Claudelands) six for 51, J. Everest (Hamilton) six for 34, R. Cann (Old Boys B) five for 24. For the first time this season the bowlers in the Hamilton senior A cricket competitions had the upperhand,, the rain of Saturday morning making conditions awkward for the batsmen. The feature of the day, of course, was the fine performance of Reg Clough’s whose seven for ?4 included the “hat-trick.” Altogether Clough bowled 13 overs and his figures demonstrate his fine form. His first over was a maiden, three singles were scored off the next and from the next two overs a single was taken in each and he also secured a wicket in each. Only a single was scored from the next and his sixth over was a maiden. It was in his eleventh over that Clough secured his “hat-trick” with his fifth, sixth and seventh balls. Ted Everest was the first victim hitting a catch to L. Higginson, when he was 24. Sandford, his partner was 26 and the crossed to bring Sandford to face Clough. Sandford, whose form was very encouraging, was clean bowled and R. Finlay, the new batsman cocked up the first ball for L. Higginson to take his second catch. It was a great effort by Higginson, the fieldsman flinging himself full length to reach the ball. A Hard Row

With N. Winger out for 4 and J. Everest, who is having a bad run, out for 1, Hamilton had a “hard row to hoe” but Lissette and Sandford batted very steadily. Lissette went at 29 but Sandford and E. Everest took the score to 80 when Clough”s “hattrick” spelt the end of a promising total. Old Boys fared even worse at the start, West going leg before when but seven runs were up and Higginson three runs later. Aitken, who has again been most consistent, plodded on unhurriedly and again proved what a useful batsman he is under any conditions. Clough was

more enterprising and after scoring 18 he went for the bowling, hitting 24 from one over of Ted Everest’s, including three sixes. He went on to 59 before he was caught. O. Harding, who followed at three for 88, also hit out in grand style and it was four for 134 when he went, his tally also including two sixes. Jim Everest retrieved his batting failure with a splendid burst of bowling at this stage and in three overs he took five wickets for five runs, his last four wickets in two overs for no runs Old Boys, however, have a handy lead, Aitken having seen his partners out. T Lyon Bowls Well

One of the most consistently accurate bowlers in Hamilton is T. Lyon, captain of Claudelands and he had a very successful day against Hamilton East. The leading team, East also had a poor start on the wet wicket but a fine display by J. D. Bright and sound knocks by the later batsmen, G. Clough, T. Ganley, G Atkinson and D. Dawson, allowed the team to reach a fair total. Lyon followed his bowling success with another solid batting display and ne and T. A. Ewan placed Claudelands in a handy position. C. G. Hunt asisted in giving Claudelands a chance of beating East byt he was unfortunately run out. Although East has a strong attack and the recognised batsmen in the Claudelands team are on the bank, the side has a good chance of scoring major points in this match.

Improvement in Fielding With the bowlers gaining more success than on any other Saturda}', the fielding sides on Saturday appeared much keener than usual and the fielding showed a much needed improvement. The catching, especially, was good and few chances went begging, this materially assisting the bowlers. During the afternoon, in the A grade no less than 19 batsmen were dismissed by being caught and the lew scores show what can be done by consistently good fielding.