A CLOSE FINISH

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 159, 1 April 1930, Page 16

A CLOSE FINISH

HAWKE CUP CRICKET MATCH WIN FOR RANGITIKEI MARGIN OF FOUR RUNS With a margin of four runs Rangitikei won the Hawke Cricket Cup from Manawatu yesterday. Dominion Special Service. Palmerston North, March 31. The final Hawke Cup challenge match of the season was concluded at the Sportsground, Palmerston North, under ideal weather conditions, to-day. The wicket, considering the amount of wear of the four previous days’ play, was in excellent condition. To-day’s play was particularly interesting and though at one stage of the play Manawatu appeared as if they were going to make sufficient runs to win the match, Rangitikei fought hard for success and were rewarded at last, Manawatu batsmen being dismissed when the home team were five runs short of the number they required to win. When play was resumed in the morning Manawatu had 150 runs on for the loss of two wickets and wanted 207 more to win. The third and fourth wickets fell very cheaply, but Pacey and Gallichan made an excellent stand, the partnership adding 131 runs before being terminated. Thereafter, however, the remaining five wickets were able to add only 59 runs. Though Rangitikei fully merited their victory, the result would have been different had Manawatu fieldsmen been more alert.

Manawatu’s Second Innings. Pacey (72) aud Greig (9) resumed Manawatu’s second innings shortly after 11 a.m. this morning, the Hawke Cup holders having two wickets down for 150, and requiring 207 runs to win. Smith (river end) and Barton (town eud) were the bowlers. The batsmen opened very quietly and after four overs had been sent down for one run (to Pacey) Greig was given out to Smith, leg-before-wicket. 151—3 —9. Norris filled the vacancy, and soon after the Manawatu wicketkeeper had joined him Pacey dispatched Smith twice to the boundary off successive overs, and later raised the 160 with a single. Disaster followed , disaster, and Norris, who had failed to score, went a few overs later off the first ball of Barton’s over, Staples, at point, taking an easy catch. 162—4—0. Gallichan took centre and drove the second ball of the over to the boundary. At this stage nine overs had been bowled since the resumption of play, seven of these being maidens. A single to Gallichan off Barton brought 170 up, and also gave Gallichan the bowling again. Another single to leg by Gallichan off Smith aud a cover drive to the boundary to Pacey were recorded in the next over. Barton sent down another maiden over, and Pacey again drove Smith to the boundary off the fifth ball of the following over. A leg boundary to Gallichan off Barton resulted in the score-board being changed to read 180 for four wickets, and a few minutes later a cover drive for a brace to Gallichan caused another alteration to be made on the board. In the next over Pacey got right behind-a delivery from Smith and sent it to the palings at square leg. A change was here effected in the bowling. Barton retiring in favour of Hodder. Pacey reached his century, and at the same time brought the innings score to 200 with a well-executed carpet drive off Smith, his batting time then being three and a half hours. Gallichan passed the 20 mark with a drive off Hodder. Staples here replaced Smith, and off the fourth ball of his first over Gallichan had a slice of luck. He drove the ball direct into Baker’s hands at square leg, but the fieldsman, a substitute, dropped the ball, Gallichan’s contribution at this stage being 25. Pacey and Gallichan now began to brighten up considerably, and though they took no risks they scored freely, the score mounting rapidly to 250, Pacey bringing this total .up with an off boundary at Smith’s expense. The luncheon adjournment was taken with the board reading 250 for four wickets. Pacey s tally being 136 and Gallichan’s 33. Gallichan had a second life in the first over after lunch, Hayward, the wicketkeeper failing to hold a catch off Smith s bowling. Barton bad seven runs knocked off his first over, and Smith s next over yielded another boundary and a singled Barton troubled both the Manawatu batsmen in his third over after lunch, and it was indeed fortunate for them that tho ball was not headed for the stumps. Pacey passed his 100 mark with a boundary through the slips off Smith, the innings score ihen being for five hours’ batting. A snappy catch behind the stumps by Hayward off Barton, who had changed ends, accounted for Pacev shortly after. Pacey had batted for slightly more than five hours for his runs, his 158 being his first century in Hawke Cup cricket, and the second highest score registered by a Manay.atu batsman. Opening very quietly he tired the howlers, and then opened out wore freely. He gave only one very difficult chance, and in his contribution were -O boundaries. His partnership with Gallichan yielded 131 runs in as many minutes '293—5—158. Baumber partnered Gallichan. and opened his account with a single. Hodder, bowling from the rner end. sent down his seventh successive maiden over, and in the following over Gallichan brought the score to 300 with , a forceful drive to the off boundary, aft r five and n quarter hours of play. In the next over Hodder clean bowled Baumber with the fourth ball of Ins eighth maiden over after lunch. 000—

Ongley Junior filled the vacancy and had life soon after opening his account. He was dropped by Smith at mid-011. He was not destined to be in for long however. He went out to smite a delivery from Barton, but misjudged the ball and was clean bowled. 317--i—«>. " three wickets in hand and 40 runs to get for victory. Ongley senior took his son s place and lost no time in getting the measure of the bowlers, but keen neldinp: kept runs down; Hodder, who bad been howling so well, now began to bowl with less accuracy and paid the penalty. Gal", liclinn twice sending him to the boundary and thereby brought the score to 330. Ongley senior was out to make runs, and after running a brace .off a lucky snick which went between the wicketkeeper and first slip, he went out .to bang Barton to the boundary, but he misjudged the flight of the ball mid was stumped by Hayward. 333—S —S. The holders still wanted 24 runs to win when Spring went in. Gallielian reduced the number of runs by four with two two’s off Smith, who was bowling at the river end. Spring dispatched Barton to the leg boundary for four, his first scoring stroke, and following it with a carpet drive for :i single. He again had tile bowling and registered another boundary off the fourth ball of the next over. A two to leg off Barton’s last ball of over went down to Gallichan’s credit and in the next over Spring sent Smith to the off boundary and. in so doing reached double figures mid raised 350. Gallichan drove Bnrton hard to the boundard. but keen fielding resulted in only a single, and in the following over Gallichan sent the ball back to the bowler and ended his innings caught and bowled. 352—9— 79.

Four rims were required to draw and five to win when Cutler went in, but the High School colt was caught by D. Cameron at mid-off first ball, and the

Hawke Cup was won by Rangitikei with a margin of four runs. Detailed results: — MANAWATU. First innings ♦••• 3 Second Innings. Paecv. e. Hayward, b. Barton .... It'S Broughton, b. Barton McVicnr. run out ™ Greig, 1.b.w.. b. Smith » Norris, c. Staples, b. Barton O Galliehnn. c. and b. Smith Bautuber. b. Hodder " Ongley jun., b. Barton - o Ongley. sen., st. Hayward, b. Barton 8 Cutler, c. D. Cameron, b. Smith .... 0 Extras • — Total •■••••••••••• fi s2 Bowling Analysis—Barton took five wickets for 110 runs: Smith, three for 113: Hodder, one for 44; D. Cameron, none for 8: Sladden. none for 9: Bowick, none for 10: Staples, none for 3S. RANGITIKEI. First innings 'J? Second innings .