A FINE FLOURISH

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 24, 30 January 1933, Page 15

A FINE FLOURISH

In the cautious manner-in which Kil-' birnie set out against Petone in taking 'first strike on No. I wicket at the Basin Reserve was.something of a calm before the storm; For quite a time the pace was slow and sure, .and when the tea adjournment was taken it seemed th.t' Kilbirnie, with under 100 runs for throe wickets, were not moving fast enough. However, it was not. long afterwards that the batsmen commenced to let loose on the bowling, and this led to a most exhilarating display of forceful batting with not a little hurricar-e hitting. Between 4.30 p.m. and the close of the innings shortly after 6 o'clock 246 runs were scored, and but for the short boundary, strokes to which earned two runs, this exceptional yield- would have been a good deal larger. ;■ Bilby and Her-, ahaw -n-ere the principals in this rapid fire by the batsmen. Bilby attacked the

bowling with' such "vigour and success that he .realised. 115.runs. in..under ninety minute's,1'- and- Kerehaw?s7: .flashing-"..-.lilade: was wielded to "such "good "purpose" that" it produced 71 of the 109 runs made in the sixth-wicket partnership of forty-five minutes. '"- Kilbirnie, with Christopher-fin standing down, started off with Hepburn and Wrigley. The pair paved the way admirably for.those to follow, a separation not being effected until the total was 79, Hepburn then going lbw. Wrigley, fully justifying his promotion, carried on soundly until he had mad.' 65. His innings was an extremely valuably one for Kilbirnie. By' that time the 'faster-scorin_ batsmen had got to work. Crook having made.an acceptable 21 and Bilby being well under way. . Mohkkouse and Morris had failed to get7_'oing. .It ■ ;«•__ after Wrigley/s dismissal (run put)",that Bilby and Kershaw, turned oh ..the1., fireworks-,; and: ere they ' were parted' 'Kijbirnie's score . was made to look very healthy. Ultimately it reached the high mark'-of 373. Bilby's.----115 included thirteen _ _ and in Kershaw's 71 there was a grand 6 and twelve 4's. Petone, without AHcott,. were unable to maintain a solid. attack, and Mallard, who took .four wickets, was. lia.iidi; capped by a knee injury."' Smallwood returned the best figures, but his two .captures were the tail-enders. Before.stumps were drawn Hudson and Grant put on seven runs for Petbn.l" 'Hudson was for-' tuna'te to remain unbeaten. There was an appeal against him for lbw, and just as this was answered in the negative his wicket was broken by Wilson, who, lidding at silly point, noticed that Hudson was out of his crease and, siiappihg;..-iip-the ball, took an accurate shot at the'wickets. It was a smart bit of work on. Wilson's part, "but the appeal in this case was also negatived.'' Details:— .'".."■■ "■ KILBIRNIE. First Innings. Hepburn, lbw,. b Mallard .....-.,.,. .32 Wrigley, run out '.-...'.' 65 Morikhbu.e. c Patrick, b Mallard .. ."•; 0 Morris, b Edwards, ........ .. .. .."5; Crook, c H. E. Nicholls, b Dempster. 21B'ilby," c M. Nicholls. .b.Eilwai-ds ...115; Kershaw, c'-M. Nicholls; b Mallard' .'.7 '71! Hanscombe, b, Mallard .;-..,....:... -,:. 6Wilson, c Dempster, b Smallwood ...'l3; Griffiths, not out- ......................... 5, Ashenden,-c" H.E.-Nicholls,-b..;i_niall-' " - wood -..-... ; .-. 11l Extra..' ..-,".,..-: 27 Total ...1.;;........ ...'[J.: 373-' Fall of Wickets—One for' 79, "two for 79, three for 93., four for 127, five for' 187, six for 296, seven for 325, eight for 354, nine for 354, ten for 373. Bowling.—Patrick took no wickets for 42 runs; Dempster, one for 94; Grant, none for 30; Mallard, four for 103; Edwards, two for 60; Smallwood, two for 17.'-'v " - PETONE. First Innings. Hudson, not out' 4 Grant, ■ not out - -. 3 Extras 0 Total for no.- wickets 7 Bowling.—Crook took no wickets for 3' runs: Morris, none for 3; "Wilson, none for 1-