OLD BOYS RETAIN LEAD

Press, Volume LXXXV, Issue 25734, 21 February 1949, Page 9

OLD BOYS RETAIN LEAD

CRICKET

NARROW win from OLD COLLEGIANS double CENTURY to J. JACOBS m* mat h nd high 6 Two th ot Bret douw» L2J y W WP. S<»red the made 5D9 „„f s.‘y ry ? nce the war. He Scored 2 ?w reJ 5r t ,?’l d - w , i W> D ' Thomas, carton » I ■ l ’ st W k Ct, giving Hicu2Xtte t J nn !B? E ' lead °4 « against last two Old Boys L D ‘ Alderson and K, F. Cook to beat g old er c W n en - their side n^ed ed 44 nlnS? Col ’tB>ans on the first inS’exc“te.^S m?llShed the taak amid centsries bat » s i? i en m O * l?ec than Jacobs scored s?S?^ s -, h a ? d Ihe av «age first' innings bpore in the games at Haglev Oval and Lancaster Park was 450. 'For Old’ Boys, made 175, and with W. A. S/' nt^ h °Lt Corecl 115 > shared an opening partnership of 231. P. Arnold the s??red te i6P est ♦ C J? st f h hrph batSmari. I w 1 st - Albans; and with w'lekL'f S Ji,L (,8) m ? de 247 f °r the first h2 v L t °J her good - scores were made r-a..ui^ Ja <»f 5 , ? ast Christchurch) 75, R. s^^.^ J^!. o i a^to^■, ,3 ' and G. Gearry ( We&t Christchurch) 70. in?T °P e fa ?y ler took five wickets durr!§u£®« d A y - ? e C G Hamilton (Old W ans b Y' 1 ? 0 b °wled 30 avers against 9 ld Bo Z s to t9ke five for M, an outstanding performance on such a day of high Others who did particularly well were L. F. Townsend (St. Albans) S 1 ’ £ ta jU® y (East Christchurch) and R. H. Scctft (Riccartdn).' Results Were:— Old Boy* 465 beat Old Collegians 456 ay 9 runs on the first innings. St. Albans 513 and 31 for three wickets beat West Christchurch 419 by 94 runs an the first Innings. lliccarton 438 beat Lancaster Park 2?? yt nd «^A f ? r ® Vjs wickets by 48 runs on the first innings. Sydenham 260 and 127 for five wickets fiecUred beat Bast Christchurch 194 and (® ur wickets by 66 runs on the first innings. Competition points, with two or pero? 1 * 5 matches still to be played, A Q i d B °y s 46, St. Albans 42, West Christchurch 37, Old Collegians 28. SydenS. an } Lancaster Park 25, Riccarton 20, East Christchurch 19.

HOYS v. OLD COLLEGIANS Old Boys retained its lead in the comBetitipn by the narrowest of margins, allough in the middle of the afternoon it seemed that Old Collegians’ first innings score of 456 would be passed with ease. The pitch was a little faster than on the first day, but it gave the bowlers no encouragement and the outfield made most hits potential boundaries. 11l making 231 for the first wicket, Legget and Hadlee did their side wonderful service. After the first over or two, during which Leggat survived two appeals for leg before wicket, the batsman were completely in charge. Neither had scored 50 in the previous club matches, apd they could not have chosen a more opportune time to find form. They scored duickly, with little apparent effort, and in the 85 minutes before lunch took the score to 111. A. R. MacGibbop apd G. Perry, the opeping bowlers, looked apything but dangerous, and it appeared that Perry was kept on far too long in his first spell. Later in the morning, Hamilton and P. H. T. Alpers were treated with some respect. After lunch Leggat was particularly severe on MacQibbon, but Hadlee, after reaching 80, appeared to fall into a cricketing day-dream. His score stood still, while Leggat caught and passed hiip. Hadlee gave chances at 81 and 82. These escapes apparently reminded nim of the time and place, for during the rest of his innings he was his usual cultured self. Leggat hit Alpers to the mid-wicket boundary with as good a stroke as any during the day. It was played off the back foot, a nd tlie speed with which the ball fled from the bat sppke of perfect timing. The 200 was raised in 147 minutes and Hadlee, with a four and a six off successive balls from Hamilton, reached a well-deserved century. It was, except for his temporary abstraction, a typical innings and a notable final effort before the English tour. Old Boys lost its second wicket without addition, but I. A. Baxter helped Leggat score 45 for the third wicket, and at tea the score was 328 for three wickets. With W. MpD. Anderson playing another aggressive innings, the score was taken to 371 before Leggat fell. The partnership had realised 95, but with the capture of Leggat’s wicket Old Collegians’ faint hopes began to revive. Old Boys still had six wickets fn hand, with only 76 runs to get. but Hamilton was bowling his spinners very effectively. Leggat’s innings was his highest and his best in senior cricket. He gave ho chances—although he should have been run but at one stage—and he hit 20 boundaries. He carried a heavy burden on his young shoulders, but his customary aplomb was never disturbed. He was particularly strong with all his on-side strokes, which ranged from mid on right round to fine leg, and occasionally he would straight drive or hit through the cover very powerfully. He also cut with discretion and effect. With only Anderson of the ; more distinguished batsmen remaining, I Old Collegians directed their efforts at ; keeping him Quiet and to this end MacGibbon bowled a remarkable width for an ever or two. Then he sent a straight full toss at the batsman, whose patent surprise at seeing the ball go near him caused him to be caught at mid-on. Old Collegians got a grip on the game when the seventh wicket. fell at 392 and, with Hampton performing his sapping operations at one end, tne next two wickets realised only 21. Alderson and Cook were left to save the game. Cook immediately made his intentions cigar, attacking all the howlers vigorously. Alderson was almost caught at 420 and Cook drove the next hall, from Alpers, straight to at tremendous speed. The catch was dropped. There was no cautious collecting of runs-r-the deficit was reduced at a speed which was amazing in the circumstances. Cook played some excellent shots, ancj Alderson also batted with a stout heart. Hamilton did a fine afternoon’s work. He bowled his off and leg breaks with a good command of length and direction add after tea he looked the only bowler likely' to carry Old Collegians through. The others were unimpressive. It might have been wise had D. R. Farrant, a slow left hander,'begn tried while Old Collegians had plenty of runs in hand. He is erratic, but bowls some good ones. The fielding' was fair, with Moffat and Mac Gibbon perhaps the best, but the throwing was poor indeed. Old Collegians' new wicket-keeper, J. Richards. a Cambridge University player, began soundly and improved throughout the day. In the last hour he kept excellently. The umpires were Messrs B. Vine and H. Palenski. > WEST CHRISTCHURCH V. ST. ALBANS West Christchurch made a gallant answer to St. Albans’s score of 413, blit after tea. when D. T. Ager was run out, the game was all but over. In the morning Arnold and Smith began very confidently. Arnold hit very hard on the leg side and made many effective square drives. Spilth was more restrained, but played his best innings of the season. By lunch they had scored 121 and, although Arnold had given a hard chance at 40, he had been completely in charge. After lunch the scoring rate increased further and the pair reached 200 in 131 minutes. A little later, the scoreboards for the two senior games at Hagley showed an aggregate of 450 runs without the loss of a wicket. Smith was bowled by Townsend when the total was 247. made in a little over two hours and a half. Smith had given his young partner sound a n( f’ steady support and before his innings ended he was hitting some beautiful shots. Ten runs later Arnold pulled a full toss from J. Smith to F. P. O'Brien at forward square leg. It was Arnold’s first century in senior cricket, and it was a fine one. He made his runs in onlj' 162 minutes, and "hit 28 fours. Arnold has made 20 runs or more in 10 of his 14 innings this season, and he is the first batsman in the competition to score 500 runs. His aggregate is now 76 higher than that of his nearest rivals. Mac Gibbon and M. Chapple. Arnold has a strong defence, but hits With power and confidence and is especially good at placing the ball through gaps on the on side. West Christchurch had a good chance of an unexpected Win, but from 247 for none the score went to 263 for four. G. Gearry and D. T. Ager arrested the downward trend and, by taking the score to 350 at tea, again put their side back into the picture. At that stage. West Christchurch needed 164 in 130 minutes, with six wickets in hand. The stage was set for a fine finish, but when Ager was run out one of the principals disappeared and the curtain came down with a rush. Ager and Gearry scored 103 together, but their separation was a fatal blow to West Christchurch. It was effected by a quick and accurate return from mid on by M. B. Poore. Gearry, hooking fiercely and hitting hard through the covers .took his score to 70, but none of the others did anything of note and th® innings closed at 419. For St. Albans Townsend demonstrated the value of good length bowling. Although the scoring was very fast, he bowled 37 overs for his 56 runs and four wickets. T. Burtt did not bowl, because of an injured arm. and of the others Poore did best. The St. Albans catching in the final stages was good, although one or two mistakes were made. The umpires were Messrs W. W. Dunkley and H. W. Gobriay. RICCARTON v. LANCASTER PARK When K. Marsh took two wickets in the first over of the game at Lancaster Park. Riccarton had lost five wickets for 60 and were still 330 behind Lancaster Park. Even the recoveries effected by R. Cas-

sidy and R. H. Spott (58 for the sixth wicket) and Cassidy and Jacobs (65 for the seventh wicket) were little more than feeble gestures in the face of such a sepre. Tp Jacobs, and his two last partners. W. Strachan and D. Thomas, must go nearly all the credit for Riccarton's remarkable achievement. Jacobs and Strachan took the score from 193 for eight to 290 fpr nine, Strachan playing dogged defensive cricket and Jacobs his usual aggressive game. He gave an easy chance to Falloon at mid on when he was -49, but the fieldsman dropped the catch, and from that ‘ point the bowlers were Jacobs’s unwilling servants. When he was joined by Thomas, Riccarton was still 100 runs behind, but by tea the deficit had been reduced to 45. After the interval Jacobs went his merry way and, although Thomas had some difficulty With D. Mcßae just before the Winning runs were made, he baited brightly afterwards and the partnership of 148 took only 66 minutes. Jacobs played magnificently. He was uncertain when he began, but later gave tfie bowlers a demonstration of stroke making they should not forget for some time. He did not hit the ball as much as dismiss it from his presence. Jacobs was playing senior cricket before some of the Lancaster Park bowlers were born and his representative career ended, for all practical purposes. 18 years ago. In his hooks, drives, and cuts, however, there was a vigour which turned back the years and denied age. There were four stages in his innings and in the game—his early uncertainty, the avoiding of the follow-on, the winning of the match, and the boldly written postscript. Jacobs hit 31 fours anq two sixes and, although the bowling was steady, he ill-treated it all. It was' his first big score this season, although he has given in other innings a hint that his powers are not on the wane. The Lancaster Park bowlers had an unenviable experience, hut L. Mahoney tried as hard as ever. Mcßae could get nothing from the pitch, and of the others K. Marsh did best, taking four cheap wickets. When Lancaster Park batted again, with the tail-enders in first; Scott took four wickets and bowled well to get them. The umpires were Messrs A. King and H. Wilson:

SYDENHAM v. EAST CHRISTCHURCH East Christchurch was unlucky to have two batsmen absent on Saturday through illness. At the start of the day the side had scored 79 for four wickets in reply to Sydenham's score of 260. R. Taplin made a very useful 31, but chief interest was in the batting of James and the bowling of N. V. Burtt. Burtt made James defend for a long spell, and the slow bowler has seldom been in better form. In nine overs he took one wicket for 9, and James, accomplished batsman that he is, played him with extreme care. James had to bear a heavy responsibility, and he batted 169 minutes for his 75, but it was a fine innings, marked by easy and graceful stroke making. East Christchurch finished 66 runs behind, and Sydenham, batting again, scored quickly. J. Reece and C. Smith scored 60 in 42 minutes. Reece playing very attractive cricket, and later A. Burgess and p. Wilson added 46 in 25 minutes before the declaration. M. Stanley, a bowler who seldom appears to get his just desserts, took four wickets. East Christchurch was left 87 minutes to score 194 and made an attempt to get the runs. R. G. Condliffe and Stanley began with 55 in 24 minutes, and Condliffe. jn particular, gave a very dashing display. A left-hander, he went for his shots from the first over and played rngpy beautiful strokes. Later three wickets fell qjjjckiv and, although the last pair. W- Walters and M. Besley, scored 60 in the last 40 minutes, there little hope theq of an outright decision being reached. Far Sydenharh Burgess took two 'cheap wicr kets for the second time in the day. The umpires were Messrs J. Owens and F. Rix.

DETAILED SCORES Old Collegians 456; Old Boys 465 (W. A. Hadlee 115. J. G. Leggat 175, I. A. Baxter 11, W. McD. Anderson 48, H. E. Cook 13, O. C. Jones 14, J. D. Alderson 20. R. F. Cook 33 not out; A. R. Mac Gibbon two for 119, G. Perry one for 102, P. H. T. Alpers one for 106, C. G. Hamilton five for 90, F. J. Shaw one for 6). Lancaster Park 390 and 96 for five wickets (K. Marsh 29 not out, I. Griffiths 16, R. Hitchcock 26. M. E. Chapple 16; R. H. Scott four for 34. J. Jacobs one for 12); Riccarton 438 (R. Cassidy 73, R. Cullen 30, Scott 34, Jacobs 202 not out, W. M. Strachan 24, D. Thomas 36; L. A. Mahoney two for 106, G. Dougall two for 74. Hitchcock two for 67, Marsh four for 33).

St. Albans 513 and.3l for three wickets (D. Stark 10 not out; G. Gearry one for 12, P. Arnold one for 8, L. W. Smith one for 1); West Christchurch 419 (Arnold 168, Smith 78. D. T. Ager 38. Gearry 70, J. F. Booker 13 not out; J. McMaster one for 39. L. F. Townsend four for 56, J. Smith two for 69. M. B. Poore two for 44). Sydenham 260 and 127 for five wickets declared (J. Reece 42. C. Smith 22, A. Burgess 30 not out. D. C. Wilson 17 not out; B. Moultrie one for 49. M. Stanley four for 47; East Christchurch 194 (R. Taplin 31. V. James 75; S. M. Cameron three for 41. Burgess two for 15, N. V. Burtt three for 54) and 150 for four wickets (Stanlev 20. R. G. Condliffe' 40. R. Peacock 10. W. H. Walters 22 not out, M. Besley 38 not out: Burtt two for 65. Burgess two for 19).