CRICKET

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XIX, Issue 64, 2 March 1929, Page 8

CRICKET

(By

“Mid-Off”)

HAWKE'S BAY GAMES. COMMENTS ON PLAY AND PLAYERS. A sixer and a few fours act as a tonic to a cricket enthusiast. He awakens from his stupor and takes a keen interest in the rungetting. He wants to see the “cover knocked off the ball.” He enjoys watching a batsman discard caution by stepping up and lifting the ball to the edge of the grass. Last Saturday there was tonic aplenty supplied to the fans. “That Kreuthen Feeling” had attacked the Old Boys combinations and there was youthful abandonment about their batting. The afternoon provided the brightest batting seen in Napier for many a season. The teams in play were High School Old Boys against. Scinde and Technical College Old Boys against United. It was the two Old Boy teams who provided the entertainment. Their motives were alike. Each wanted a four point victory. However, the motives came from two different sets of circumstances. Greed was the cause of High School Old Boys' display. They had a safe lead over Scinde on the first innings count but the extra point to be derived from a complete victory would have placed them at the head of the championship poll. With Old Collegians it was a different tale. They were up against things. United had the “wood on them” as a result of the. first innings displays. Old Collegians made a fight to recover the honours. As matters turned out neither side realised their object. Still the public gained the benefit of their efforts and had a grand afternoon’s entertainment.

As a result of the day’s play the aspect of the competition has been altered' considerably. Old Collegians’ defeat came as a surprise. It appeared as though they were to "stahlish a big lead. However. United upset their anple-cart and they now share the honours with High School Old Boys at the head of the ladder. By their victory over T.C.0.8.. United jump into third nlace ahead of Scinde and TTetetannga. The latter, like T.C.0.8., have had 1 their “day-off” in the second round and consequently are a came behind. The ensuing table indicates the nositinns of the various teams, their wins and losses are also given:— Double. Single. W T,. W. L. Dr. Pts. TCO B. ... fl 0 1 1 1 U H. 5.0.8. ... 1 1 3 1 0 14 United 0 2 3 0 1 H Scinde 0 0 14 1 9 Heretaunga... 0 0 13 1 8 Note.—Tlie points are taken on the basis of four for an outright win. three for a win on the first innings, one for a loss on a single innings match, and two for a draw. The biggest knock came from Don Shepherd’s bat. He niadk the eighth century of the season. It was a breezy one at that, too. There were several other good contributions, the majority being not outs. The day’s honours go to the following batsmen :— Shepherd' (T.C.0.8.) 11.3 Stevens, J. (United) 76+ Worker (H. 5.0.8. 69* Stephenson (T.C.0.8.) 62* King (United) 51 Bradburn (Scinde) 48* nicklev (H. 5.0.8. 47 Pedlow (United) 43t Note— * Indicates not out and + denotes innings carried overnight before completion. Despite the fact that there were several good scores made a few of the trundlers gathered in four or more wickets. Below are gives the best bowling averages returned:— Gifford (H. 5.0.8. six wickets for 49 runs (two days). Stephenson (United), four wickets for 2 runs (two days). Gifford (H. 5.0.8. four wickets for 31 runs. Reaney (H. 5.0.8. four wickets for 51 runs. Pell, G. (Scinde), four wickets for 56 runs (two days). • • • Old Collegians Fail. United came to light with a surprise victory over the competition leaders and present holders of the championship title. The win was virtually gained on the first day’s play. Old Collegians were dismissed for 147 and in reply United knocked' tip 135 for the loss of five wickets. Last Saturday they clinched on the first innings count by bringing the reply to a close at 171. Jack Stevens and Pedlow were the not cut men, but the former increased his overnight score by only five before he was caught behind' the sticks. Pedlow. however, fared well and in a bright display carried his contribution from 28 to 43 before he was bowled. In the same over the innings closed with Tech. Old Boys 24 runs to the bad.

Stpehenson, Nairn and Shepherd had accounted for nine of the

the last named getting two for three runs in three overs, two nf which were maidens. Stephenson was in good form with the hall. He sent down ten overs to collect four wickets for 25 runs. Nairn, too, was troublesome. Of his 15 overs five were maidens and he finished up with throe wickets at a cost of 47 rims. There were over three hours of play when Stenhenson and Ernie Elliott opened Old Collegians’ second innings. Instructions were to make runs quickly and then got. United out. The first part of the orders was faithfully carried out. Tim Stevens family opened the attack

any they were hit hard. The batsmen lost no time in getting the runs. In the seventh over King appeared and accounted for Elliott, who had contributed 24 of the 53 recorded in 20 minutes. This was great scoring but better was to come. Don Shepherd acted in accordance with his own instructions. He had not been at the crease longer than eight minutes before the century was recorded. Don had lifted Percy King for a couple of sixers. Such a feat had not before been accomplished against Percy, who is a splendid bowler to keep a batsman quiet. The third ball Shepherd tipped into the nands of a slinsman, who mulled the catch. Jack Stevens Was being punished equally as much, however. King came off and Temperton replaced him. Don lifted' him for a. six also. The fifty was gained in 18 minutes. Some scoring! Just before the tea adjournment Shepherd had a third life. He was dropped at square leg. The refreshment hour found the tally at 137 for one wicket. Stephenson had faithfully held his end up but he was not in the picture with his skipper expressing contempt for the bowling.

Continued Prolific Scoring. Upon resumption, Shepherd warmed up by lifting Temperton out of the arena. A couple of minutes were lost in looking for the ball. It was gre,at excitement for the spectatbrs, for it was so rare that they were given such so care-free and hefty a display. Stephenson opened out a little more and he too commenced to score rapidly with fours. Shepherd brought his contribution inio three figures in a sensational manner. Three fours placed him 99 and then he lifted Temperton to the lc boundary, where Scott-Kelly took a good catch. Unfortunately for Scotty he was out of bounds and Don was credited with half a dozen. .This score also brought the aggregate to the double century. Two minutes later Shepherd was stumped and at the end of the over the innings was declared closed. The 211 for two wickets had taken 88 minutes to compile. It was tremendous rapid scoring. Shepherd was at the crease-for a little under the hour and sent 14 balls to the edge edge of the grass in addition to lifting five outside the chalklines. Despite the fact that there were three fairly easy chances given Don’s display was a good' one. His eye was in and he absolutely dominated ’he bowling. He was merciless and just stepped forward to thrash practir ally every ball. The two sixes off King’s bowling mentioned above were “straight” balls but so confident was Don that he did not snare even them. Stephenson played safer cricket and when he faced the bowler, which was not for long or very often, he scored freely. He was' at the crease throughout the innings and ','is 62 included half a dozen fours. He and Shepherd collared the bowling, which incidentlv was quite good, hut urder the terrific slogging 'went to pieces. Nevertheless the trundlers can console themselves with the thought that it is so seldom batsmen epen out these days.

United were left with 90 minutes t 0 play out. They had two courses open to them. Either play nit time and make sure of the first innings victory or endeavour to make 188 and obtain a complete win. This latter course was desirable from the viewpoint of Old Collegians. Consequently United elected to play safe. Play safe they did. Temperton and King donned the pads and kept them on for the remainder of the afternoon. After their opposition’s bright scoring the display was painfully slow. Tlie scoring was less than one a minute. Old Collegians tried bowler after bowler. Any kind of ball was sent down, any kind but a “straight” one in the hope that either of the pair would forget caution. , Neither batsman could he tempted though Percy King was not too cautious. He certainly opened out t* place his bounjlaries in safe localities. All but Bert Elliott, who was behind the sticks, had a “fly” with the ball. In desperation young Jim Elliott, the third member of the family in the team, had a turn and Percy stepped out of his ciease to smack the fifth ball. He missed and Big Brother Bert spread-eagled the sticks. King had made half a century in the ninety minutes play. Stumns were drawn at this stage and Don Shepherd’s, instructions to get United out had misfired badly.

Bright Business by Old Boys. Much responsibility was laid on the “last legs” of Scinde. In the first innings the final wicket pair had 7(1 runs to make to overtake the task set by High School Old Bovs. It was beyond them, of course, though they did bring the margin down to 54 when the innings closed. This was close on three o'clock. Old Boys set about the second innings. In fifteen minutes Reaney and Appleby had knocked up 43, the former being caught at long on after contributing 31. Bickley had his revenge by knocking fourteen ofl the remainder of G Pell’s ever. Appleby fell in the next over and his place was filled by Worker. The new combination quickly settled down to serious business, the aims > nd objects of which was to score is many runs as possible in the shortest period period of time. The century was hoisted after 30 minutes batting, the final fortv runs coming off three overs. When the tea adjournment was called at 106 Bickley was 34 and Worker 26 The tea and cakes treat lasted for 25 minutes, then the nair set up in business again. They brought the total up to a gross when Cane brought off a surprise catch from Bickley. who resigned his office In favour of Owen with a credit of 47. The newcomer took things quietly at the start hut soon brightened up and made an able partner for Rupe, who was still actively in business. Mat O'Brien was about to take un the attack when the firm declared “Shop closed” after being in the market for 85 minutes. Worker was the “star” salesman mid he had collected 69

shares, including ten bunches of fours. His display was an excellent one. It was one that might well come from the holder of the Redpath Gup. Scinde’s Close Call,

Scinde faced the same problem as United did in the other game. They were left with 90 minutes to play out but they had to make 242 to win or play out time and save a complete defeat. This latter alternative met with their favour. The batting order was reversed and the “tail” went in first. For that matter they were out first, too. Old Boys selected Joe Gifford and Tom Reaney to commence the mince-meat operations. Joe collected three wickets with three runs on the board. Worker set the “rot’’ going with a brilliant onehanded catch off “Father” O’Brien’s hat. There was a lull for a. while, then Reaney had his turn. C. Pali and Lord were quickly dismissed, then Gifford collected' another wicket. Shortly afterwards Reaney gained his third by Mat O’Brien following his dad’s example and giving Rupe Worker a hot catch. Once again the obliging Rupe collected. Seven wickets had fallen for 36 runs when ■Tim Bradburn and “Butcher” Cane became associated. They raised the tally to 57 when Cane was caught behind the sticks. Only two more wickets to go and’ 38 minutes to fill in was the sorry plight of Scinde when Signall commenced his strike. He added eleven before he was bowled by “Hoppy” Owen. J. C. O’Brien, the youngest member of the family in the team, went out to partner Bradman for the final stand. There was 18 minutes to go so Bradburn took the hull bv the horns and commenced to toss the ball about Worker was the first victim. He was lifted for a six and a four. Bradburn took as much of the bowling'as he could' but the colt had to face some of it and that some was the return of Gifford and Reaney. However, he surprised both Scinde and Old Boys bv more than just holding his end up. « hen stumps were drawn the pair were unbeaten and Scinde. after a very close cal], were saved from a Complete defeat. Bradburn was unbeaten for 48 which included five fours and a couple of sixes. J. C. O’Brien had contributed 16 highly valuable runs. Glances to the Off! A race meeting that had been arranged in Adelaide was postponed because it clashed with the Fourth cricket Test. Naturally, every cricketer is disappointed when he fails to score with the bat. A story is told of Brockwell, the old Surrey player, who went in once with a new bat—a perfectly beautiful bat—-and failed to score. He returned to the pavilion and called to the attendant. “Tom, bring me a chopper,” and, under the eyes of several players, many of whom would have given their ears for such a bat, Brockwell chopped the offending willow to pieces!

When Bradman was rattling up his 3W not out for N.S.W. v. Victoria at Sydney a fortnight or so ago, Onyons came on to bowl. Bradman banged the first ball to the leg boundary for four and cover-drove the next for three. Bettington took a single and then Bradman clipped the bowler for four, pulled the next for another boundary, put the following one down the gully for a brace (making himself 250) and smashed the last ball for still another four—--22 off the over, 21 of them to Bradman. “Tripe and Onyons,” came a voice from the “Hill.” For the following over, Ironmonger replaced Onyons.

Some of the English newspapers are girding at Warwick Armstrong’s charge against Larwood that he deliberately buzzes his fast bumping stuff at tlie batsman's body. English critics . have accused Jack Gregory of doing the same thing, and in the years that the locust hath scoffed there was a unanimous newspaper decision against Ernest Jones for “bowling the man.” It was Jones who, on his first appearance in England in 1896, landed W. G. Grace such n red-hot one in the ribs as staggered even that colussus. What the “Old Man” said when he got his breath back was echoed by nearly every journal in Britain next morning, but not quite in the same terms.

The Victorian cricket heads cannot be accused of want of sportsmanship in the matter of R. H. Bettington’s inclusion in the New South Wales team against their own side (says the Sydney “Bulletin”). The New South Wales authorities wrote pointing out that, as the ship Bettington was in on his arrival from England entered “this State’s waters” on October 25, he was obviously eligible to play for New South Wales in the match commencing in Sydney on January 24, he having thus fulfilled the thre'e months’ qualification. The Victorians didn’t even inquire when New South Wales acquired dominion over “waters” which are under the aegis of the Commonwealth. It just told its neighbours to go ahead and play Bettington or not, as they dashed well pleased.

There have been many claimants to the title of the “world’s worst batsman.’’ W. G. Grace considered it was a toss up between J. V. Saunders and E. Peate, the Yorkshire man, but old authorities speak as enthusiastically of the lack of prowess of W. Buttress, who played more than seventy years ago. He was a slow bowler of exceptional skill, and is said to have been the first man to get a break on a ball with surety. He is described as “probably the worst hand at batting ever seen in first class cricket.” It is said of him that if he hit a ball it was sure o go up in the air. The story is told of him that, being wanted to go in last in a North v. South match at Lord’s, “he was nowhere to be found, but was at last discovered perched up in a tree beyond the boundary.” Asked if he knew it was his turn to bat, he replied, “What’s the use of me going in? If I hit them I shall be out; if I miss them I shall be out. Let's start the next innings.”