Cricket

Evening Post, Volume CXVII, Issue 76, 31 March 1934, Page 18

Cricket

By "Ntt Oat"

KILBIRNIE'S WIN

CHAMPIONSHIP FINALE

SENSATIONAL ENDING

ThY sensational finish to the senior flj icket championship last Saturday haa aaused quite a lot of talk; but, wliat--1 ;ever the, opinions of the tactics employed' late in the day,- there can be little doubt that Kilbirnie merit tho success which came their.'way. Their consistency has been remarkable over a.period of years, and, while that does ■not", always, win- championships, it is worthy of a plum now and again if the form is-consistently good. Kilbirnie have built up a very strong club, and since; their- entry into senior 'cricket they have brought added interest to ■the. game, ■-_ especially from a district /point of view. They are a .very live club arid the regaining of senior chaniiriohship honours should lead to even' niore enthusiasm for the game than has been shown in the past. ■ To Kilbirnie's strong following the success last Saturday was no more surprising than to others. At the end of the Kilbirnie, first innings it wa£ genaccepted that the championship had been deeideiL 'Kilbirnie having . failed to reach Petone's score, Wellington were hailed as the champions, and .they were freely congratulated, even .by.Petone, who subsequently had a part in the surprising; turn of events which deprived Wellington of success which had already been celebrated in part rind in which Petone-players had been invited to join. But any idea that a N gift was made of tho championship to Kilbirnie'"should -not bo" entertained,' though there must, of; course, bb some sympatUy.for Wellington.. -Then, too, ■ it was quite, on the cards that Petoiic would ski'ttje Kilbirnie. A team to do \vhat Kilbirnie did under tho cireuinstaneosis worthy: of aydistinction, and the winners arc to be congratulated not only oil taking-the honours but also on the -manner in. which they tackled a situation .which.' looked well Nnigh hopeless. It had been proved earlier in the afternoon.vthat'<the wicket was a _ bowje.r'§. paradise,' Allcott in particular putting thei ibatsnien■-,to a real test and, ~returning; .leinarkahie. figures. The' story of:the"final chaso for runs, with the ex-Bongotai ' College boy, Wilson, ns'the leading figure, ha-s been told in "The Posit/'. ■ and it will" not soon. be forgotten, la-'a fading light' on -a: bpwler's•/wieket_l Kilbirnie rattled on .128 runs in about thirty-eight minutes, and by so doing sent a majority of the spectators; (the largest number seen at a club match during tho season) away JrulL: of, enthusiasm'.-,for the game and with hopes of seeing in tho futuro much more of the.type of play which makes the strongest, appeal. One wonders, from that experience, whe her it would not bo worth the Wellington Cricket Association's While.. to consider awarding championship points only for matches "won outright. Sonic idea of tho consistency or otherwise of teams in tho senior championship during the past four years i:. given ■in the championship poihts;for each season in- that period. Tho figures 'are: Kilbirnie (1930-31) i 3, (1931-32) :S5, (1932-33) 37, (1933-34) 46; total, 161. Wellington, 34, 20, 38, 39; total, 1.';7; Ilutt, 41, '35, 29,17; fotalj 132. Pctone, ::9, 10, 35, Z'i; total, 117. Wellington College Old 80y5,'43, '28.' 22, 23; total, 110. Midland", i' 49; 10,' 17, 28;. total, 104. University, 36, 10, 22, 36; total, 101. Institute, "33, 35, 7, 10; total, 87.