CRICKET

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXI, Issue 305, 9 December 1931, Page 3

CRICKET

GAMES IN THE BAY SECOND HASTINGS ROUND STARTED. COMPETITION LEADERS IN DIFFICULTIES. (By “Mid-off.”) The second round of the Hastings senior grade competition was commenced last Saturday, and, as a result of the day’s play, each of the two leading teams, Whakatu and Old Boys, is in a precarious position. Whakatu are 52 behind on the first innings, and Old Boys are hard put to overtake the aggregate set by Hastings. It was on the Nelson Park wicket that most action was seen, both lomoana and Whakatu, completing the fust innings, lomoana tuuUe Dy lar their Drigntest start ot the season, inruughout the first round the greatest resistance came from the lomoana “tail,” but on Saturday those at the head of the batting order came to light, and four wickets fell for LUU. Then the collapse came the ixmings dosing for 136. The fall of Harold Carr was the signal lor the “rot.” He saw the century hoisted, and then gave Love a catch. His contribution of 43 was the best of the day, including four boundaries. Against the trundling of Patterson, Carrington and Love it was hard to make runs, and Carr had to use his feet and wrists to score. Robertson, Mitchell and Somerville all helped to swell the total, Somerville lifting Patterson for a great sixer. Patterson came out of the fray with the splendid average of six for 78. He bowled well throughout, keeping good length, though sometimes over-pitching the ball. For the most part it was the varied pace that puzzled the batsmen. Carrington, though he collected but two wickets, bowled exceptionally well for his nine overs. He dismissed both Mitchell and Somerville, two of the strongest bats in the Tomoana side. Tomoana’s stock bowlers, Mitchell and Somerville, made short work of the Whakatu batsmen, though they were favoured with more than a liberal share of luck, Mitchell being particularly fortunate in this respect. The dismissal of Patterson, Le Comte and Gardener, the last-named by unfortunately stepping on to his wicket, for eight runs, was a disastrous start to the reply, and the remaining batsmen had to fight uphill. They endeavoured to knock up the runs in quick time, but Mitchell’s breaks baffled them, and the best they could do was 81 —a deficiency of half a century. Parkes shaped well to head the batting list, and Probin stepped out to Mitchell in great style. The trundler prevailed, but not until Probin had showm the way to Griffin for a sixer. Love was on the defence the whole time, and his stepping back brought about his downfall per medium of a leg-before decision. Mitchell again reaped a harvest, six wickets coming his way for 44 runs. He was lucky to get at least three as early as he did, but nevertheless, he was in splendid form. The experienced, as well as the colts, find his breaks extremely difficult to play. He conceals his break very well, and the only way to meet him is to smother the break. This, of course, is attended with other difficulties, but it would seem to be the only way to score off him. In knocking up 155 Hastings compiled the biggest aggregate recorded so far this season. That they did so with only nine batsmen makes the feat all the more creditable. On present indications they are likely to displace Old Boys, who have lost five wickets for 73. The early Hastings batsmen were in good form, particularly “Tut” Geddis and Harry Watkinson, who make a bright second-wicket stand. Each batted with confidence, and between them contributed over 80 runs. Chaplin, Polhill and Watkins helped to swell the total, Polhill shaping nicely until he discarded caution when facing the “cough-drop” trundler BrentonRule. , , Fitzgerald struck a patch when Old Boys went in to bat, and it was as much as they could do to hold the fort until stumps were drawn. Fitzgerald, though very successful, was not bowling exceptionally well, his four for 25 being somewhat flattering, as his bowling was most erratic. Sid Drake and Skipper Craven stopped the “rot,” and by cautious batting succeeded in carrying their partnership over the week-end. However, with five of the best bats looking on, the prospects of making the required 80 odd runs to avert a defeat on the first innings, are dismal. Games at Napier. Ideal cricket weather last Saturday allowed the batsmen in all grades to help themselves liberally to runs and no less than four centuries were hoisted. Pride of place must be awarded Scott-Kelly for opening the season for centurions in the senior grade. His tally was not a chanceless one but it was forceful and the batsman used his feet to get down on the loose ones pitched on the leg side. No less than 18 boundaries were included in his score of 140. The majority of the remaining United batsmen helped themselves to the runs, the St. Johns bowling becoming

of the tired variety. Burns again proved his reliability with a donation of 47 compiled in neat fashion. Heath, back from Otago 'Varsity on vacation, assisted United and his contribution was 19. Temperton, well down on the batting list, escaped from his string of exasperating contributions by adding 20 to the score before being run out, a fate that was shared by George Stevens. Only two run-outs in the senior grade suggests that the understanding between batsmen in running between wickets is improving. Going in to bat St. Johns lost their mainstay, Chadwick, who failed to score. Finlayson and Fitzwater successfully played out time and next Saturday will endeavour to supply the additional 297 runs required to avert a first innin "s defeat. The struggle between the excollegians of Technical and High Schools commanded all attention and with first use of a perfect wicket Tech, compiled a very handy 250, a tote.. that H. 5.0.8. will experience difficulty in overtaking. Kauter, who has been most consistent this season, was again to the fore with a very useful 52 compiled in fairly quick time and he was followed by Cohen whose contribution of 67 was a breezy effort with fourers predominating. A brightening up of his work in the field would cause him to be regarded as a possibility for rep. honours. H. Reaney commanded respect at all times at the bowling crease and his bag of six for 75 was a well earned reward. Losing their two opening batsmen for 2, H. 5.0.8. are up against it somewhat but t’” two not out men, Tom Reaney and Allan Beck, are capable of many runs. The finish should be interesting. Bradman’s "Hat Trick.” In three successive games against the South Africans Don Bradman has contributed a threefigure tally—a wonderful record, but between the scores the Sydney man is not resting. An Aucklander who witnessed the first New South Wales v. South Africa contest, mentions that immediately Bradman was dismissed after whacking up 130 odd he walked round to the sight screen and from there closely studied ea<' South African bowler who look a turn at the crease. Tho flight of the ball, turn and rise, also the peculiarities of each bowler were carefully noted. An intimate friend of Bradman’s in commenting on the interest shown by the New South Wales batting freak remarked that such watchfulness could be taken as a reliable forecast of Don’s intentions in future games with the Springboks, and so it has been proved, for in the first test Bradman scored over 205 in his only innings, while at Sydney last Monday he knocked up 219, scoring at a terrific rate. Providing he can get anybody to stay with him a 400 tally is apparently not beyond him this season.