Notable Occasions In Long Career

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28528, 6 March 1958, Page 13

Notable Occasions In Long Career

In representative cricket, Griffiths enjoyed similar success: 68 wickets at an average cost of 16 runs, including seven in an innings three times. He also has a remarkable record as a batsman in senior games; going in very late in the innings has its compensations. With an untidy scorer, one may occasionally pick up an extra or two put on the wrong line, and then there is the distinct chance of a not-out. He has had 244 senior innings so far, and in 111 of them he has been undefeated. In these games he has made 2032 runs at an average of 15. Griffiths recalls with particular pleasure a suburban game against Hutt Valley at New Year, 1940. In the fourth innings, the eighth Suburban wicket fell with the scores level. So did the ninth, next ball, the bowler with a chance of a hat-trick being H. R. Pollock, a former All Black fullback, and a fast bowler of considerable skill. Out went Griffiths, number eleven, and he scored the winnings run with a deflection to fine leg.

14 Wickets There was another notable occasion in his career. In 1947, he had been ill for a fortnight just before the Hutt Valley match and there was some doubt about his fitness for two full days’ play. So he arranged a practice at Beckenham Park, two days before the game. He bowled solidly for two hours, and felt he could play. He did. and had a match analysis of 14 for 114. Suburban won the game with five minutes to spare, a husky lad called George Gearry hitting two 6's to finish it. Griffiths has done his full share of administrative work for the club. As club captain in 1928 and a committee member in various capacities each year since then, he has attended some 300 meetings. He was elected a life member of the club 10 years ago. He has enjoyed his cricket to the full, and is grateful to his club, and to his friendly opponents, for

the pleasure they have given him. So now the man who has bowled 26,022 balls in senior cricket is on the threshold of an extraordinary 1000 wickets. It would be fitting if he reached that figure with a hat-trick, but' he already has two of those to his credit. It would be better if he could take the whole 10 New Brighton wickets, for that feat has so far eluded him; besides, it would give this eager young veteran a good start towards his second thousand.