CRICKET

Evening Star, Issue 23130, 2 December 1938, Page 5

CRICKET

COUNTRY BEATS TOWN FEEBLE BATTING DISPLAY [Pee United Peess Association.] WELLINGTON, December 1. After one of the feeblest batting displays ever seen in the annual Town v. Country cricket match, Country beat Town at the Basin Reserve to-day by four wickets. The game lasted less than two days, as Country made the winning hit at 4,40. Thirty-six wickets fell for 540 runs, giving the batsmen the poor average of 15. If the hatting was weak, full credit must be given to the bowlers. T. L. Pritchard, of Palmerston North, a fast-medium right-hander, strengthened his claim to he considered the nest bowler in the Dominon, following up his six wickets for 62 yesterday with five for 52 today, thus taking a total of 11 wickets for 114 runs at an average of 10.36. _ When the Town team resumed its second innings this morning nine wickets fell for 65. , M‘Keown. the last man, then joined Ongley, and the pair redeemed the innings somewhat by putting on 52 runs for the last wicket, the total reaching 117. The outstanding batsman on the Town side Avas J. A. Ongley, who came to Wellington at the beginning of this season. He scored 36 not out in the first innings, and followed this up with 57 not out to-day, thus scoring 93 runs in the match without losing his wicket. He made his runs like a batsman in form. Poorly as the Town batsmen had shaped, the Country team did little better in this department, as with only 109 runs required to win six wickets fell for 67 runs. Norris, the Country captain, and Connor then got_ together and won the match for their side by putting on 43 ' runs for the seventh wicket. Norris, who also proved himself a first-class wicketkeeper, scored' 57 not out in finished style, and should be well in the running for the Wellington Plunket Shield team.