MIDLAND'S PREMIERSHIP WIN

Evening Post, Issue 86, 11 April 1936, Page 18

MIDLAND'S PREMIERSHIP WIN

By defeating Wellington on \Vthe final day of club play Midland place d themselves on the top of the W.C.A. senior championship ladder for the 1935-36 season. Some good performances have been registered by Midland this season, and they proved in thei v match against Wellington that they are able to rise to the occasion. Weal tier conditions on Saturday were ha: sdly conducive to good cricket, tlr the batsmen had a better chance jthan the bowlers. /

Midland owe their success in the final match largely to the /fine performance with the bat of CiQawford, a young player full of prorriiise, who played in a confident and si cilful manner. Adapting himself to "conditions he made strokes all round Ifie wicket. At 30 he gave a chance, but; thereafter his display was in the melin chanceless. On nearing his cenfciiry he had some "gift" bowling, and taking advantage of it, he remained unt jfeaten when he had reached 106. His fjrand effort included eleven 4's and numerous 2's.

Another batsman who r bsisted Midland in no small degree j,vas O'Neill, who gave a forceful and determined display which, apart from, being valuable, assisted" considerably , towards the brightening' up of proceedings. Although he did not app' ear comfortable at first, he later battei il in his usual carefree manner and conti ji.buted an acceptable 41 before losing his wicket. His partnership with Cr.'Hjyford added 84 to the total.

. Tindill shaped quite w( fH until he fell in playing forward to a j food ball from Meech. -Mainly- as the i jnsult of smart running between the w tickets, he hit up a .neat 20 and also kept.his end up' well in support of (Crawford. Midland, passed Wellington's total when a fast ball from Wleech was allowed'to go to the boundary for four byes. It is a singular f kct that during the innings there were bnly eight byes altogether- and- that- four kpi tfiese should have occurred at a cri ti cal moment. The • Wellington" 'bb wears' "foUtid' the going difficult on Saturday, and, thejr handicap "was increase p. owing to the poor assistance which | they were ac-

corded. Mfcech handled the greasy ball particillarly well and in capturing two wickets gave a good performance. | Blundell (helped to share the burden of the attack and although he did not take wick|.ts, he was largely instrumental in /'keeping the runs in check. Symes ccfcld not repeat his effectiveness of trfs. first day of the match. ' t ' ' ———

MATCH-WINNING EFFOET BY COLT