PROCESSION OF BATSMEN

Evening Post, Volume XCIX, Issue 51, 1 March 1920, Page 4

PROCESSION OF BATSMEN

The opening day's play in the representative cricket match Wellington v. Hawkes Bay at the Basin Reserve on Saturday, was marked' by much of a. sensational nature. By allowing the visitors to first try. the soft wicket, it was thought that the local team would have an advantage, but it so turned out that, although Hawke'e Bay scored only 121 runs in their first innings, Wellington's effort, so far as it went, was worse. With the exception of two fair partnerships, the visitors' innings was more or less a procession of batsmen to and from the pavilion. Then Wellington followed, and, to the great surprise of about 800 spectators, they provided an even moro spectacular march across the green, completely collapsing against the slow break bowling of O'Connell, who when stumps were drawn^ had an average of five wickets for 15 runs. W. Baker, H. E. Burton, .Lambert, and Middleton, all failed to score. When play ceased for tho day Wellington had.lost six -wickets'for 42 runs.

In consequence of the recent heavy rain the ground was dead, and during the match many a good hit realised only n couple of runs, whereas on a harcß ground the ball would have easily reached the boundary. The fielding by botln teams was good, but it was noticeable that with the slow bowling throughout—■ quite unusual for local cricket—Wellington spread out in the field, whereas Hawkes Bay kept much closer to tho wicket. The visitors are accustomed to fast wickets, and their display under such conditions as existed on Saturday was somewhat remarkable.

Alter The Post went to press on Saturday A. Johnson and O'Brien (Hawkes Bay) commenced a partnership, which gave promise of better scoring.- O'Brien brought 40 up by a fine drive to the outfield, bu(i just afterwards Johnson lost ! his wicket by snipping one to Duncan in the slips. 42—6—11. When associated '-with Charles,' who was next to take tho crease, O'Brien opened out and sent a ball from Middleton. to the boundary. Burton brought off what appeared to be a smart catch from a hard hit by O'Brien, but the umpire's ruling favoured the batsman. However, a few minutes later O'Brien, hitting out to a good ball from Middleton, missed and was bowled. 53—7—24. Stevens filled the vacancy, and was content to take matters easily for a while. Then 'he became so aggresiJlve that the field spread out. A neat cut for two through the slips by Charles brought 100 up after an hour and 35 minutes' play, After the afternoon, tea adjournment Lambert caught Stevens, off Smyrk, terminating a really good partnership, which realised 53 runs. 106 —B—3B. Mills was. associated with Charles until the latter was caught at point by Wame. 115—G—23. The last man, Gifford., was caught in the slips by Baker. The innings closed for 121. With exactly an hour to go before ■ stumps were drawn for the day, there was every prospect that Wellington,' 'with a good supply of strong batsmen, would keep the visitors busy in the field, but they were Boon in difficulties against.a. similar, style of boiling to that which they had given the visitors. W. Baker and'Dind opened, the former facing O'Connell. Baker only pla-yed two balls, the second being snicked into the slips, .where'it was taken by O'Brien. o—l—o. Lambert filled the vacancy, and Wellington's scoring - account was opened by a log-bye. A few minutes later Bind scored from a cut to the off, and after he had added- a few more runs Lambert was caught by Johnson at long-leg before he had scored. 6—2—o. Burton followed,,and although Dind added fire runs, including a hit to the boundary, the captain failed to score, being dismissed by the second ball he, faced from O'Connell, which struck his chest and fell on to the ■stumps. Tho nest man was Schrseder, but he only arrived at the wicket to see Dind sent back to the pavilionclean bowled by O'Brien. 11—4—9. Doneghue and Schraeder shaped well for a time, although the former could only obtain a couple of singles, while Scliraeder scored more freely, on one occasion sending O'Brien away for 4. Wellington had been in only half an hour when Doneghue was caught at point by ■Charles. Middleton, who joined. Schraeder; kept, up the procession to the pavilion, being dismissed before scoring. 2(5—6^-0. Tho next batsman was Warnc, who was making Iris first appearance as a senior representative, and he justified his inclusion by shining where the-more seasoned batsmen had failed. Appearing quite at home with tho bowling, .which included a change, Gifford relieving O'Brien, he scored freeJy, and with. Schraeder, who' was also doing well, carried the score to 42 when stumps were drawn. Scores :— HAWKES BAY. First Innings. . .Patterson, c Baker, b Middleton ... 0 Jacobson, c Baker, b Smyrk 9. O'Brien, b Middleton 24 Fulton, c Dind, b Middleton 2 Crosse, b Middleton 0 O'Connell, c Cate, b Smyrk 0 Johnson, c Duncan, b. Middleton ... 11 Charles, c Warnie,. b Middleton 23 Stevens, c Lambert, b Smyrk 38 Mills, c Baker, b Smyrk; 5 Gilford, not out : 4 Extras .-■ 5 Total 121 . Rowling Analysis.—Middle-ton, six wickets for 56 runs; Smyrk, four for 45; and Diurean, .none for 15. WELLINGTON. First Innings. Baker, c O'Brien, b O'Connell 0 Dind, b O'Brien ..'....: 9 Lambert, c Johnson, b o''Conuell ..'. 0 Burton, b O'Conmell 0 Schraeder, not out 13 Doneghue, c Charles, b O'Comiell... 2 Middleton, b O'Connoll 0 Warno, not out 16 'Extras :..■... 2 Six wickets for 42 Bowling Analysis.—O'Connell, five wickets for 15 runs; O'Brien, one for 24; Gifford, none for 1.