WAIRAU V. PICTON

Marlborough Express, Volume LIII, Issue 277, 25 November 1919, Page 2

WAIRAU V. PICTON

After an interval of three seasons, competitions in Blenheim were recommenced on Saturday with the above match (which was won by YVairau by { 68 runs on the first [innings). In the meantime, however, the Wairau Club's old ground, the headquarters of local cricket activities for so many years, has passed, and is now the scene of active building operations. In looking for new quarters the Association decided on the Domain (Horton Park). The ground was taken in hend only a month ago, and the re- j suits attained have proved very gratifying. There was some speculation as to how the new wicket would shape, but it can be safely said that it came up to expectations. True, a few kept low and an occasional one' "kicked" a little, but as the season progresses and the soil sets more firmly with the aid of water find rolling, some fine wickets should be obtained. Reverting to Saturday s game, Ef-son for Picton won the toss from. Neale and sent Wairau in, but the latter made a bad start, losing Mills for 0. Chisholm and Neale then went to 65, when Chisholm, who, in spite of three years' spell batted well and j more freely than usual, was caught, j Mason and Hiekman added a fow by i hard hitting, but the score was not pioceeding too well when l/uller commenced to liven the proceedings. Daring his short stay he hit up 35 (out of 58 for the Bth wicket) including 20 off 6 balls. Cragg then finished off the innings in quick time, missing the "hat-trick" by only one ball. Neale was left not out with <0 ; having carried his bat through the innings. The length of grass m the field k%% tlie. gcoro down materiaUv. &nd but for this i\\i total Would easily hav6 fcX'eeetled 200, and probably Neate would have reached 100. Crag's, who was taken off too soon the first time, bowled better than usual, find finished with the splendid figures of 6 for 23.

Picfcon made a solid start, and when Ciagg and Barrett, who made a stubborn stand, were separated, the score ,was 2 for 65. Then, however, Hickman, unexpectedly lured out of his five years' retirement, during- which time'he had not touched a ball, proved too much, for the rest of' the batsmen, and mainly through his 7 for 25 the innings closed at 11^Packman's old half-pace leg-break among the fast ones was the principal caus© of trouble.

' The day was Unseasonably cold, 'and as a. consequence the fielding of loth sides was very ordinary, redeemed to some extent by two or three really fine 'catches. The detailed scores are as follows: WAIRAU, Ist Innings. E. 11. Neale. not out 70 A. M. It. Mills b Crags 0 W. D. Chisholm c Matthews b I Barrett 32 G. H. Moti.ro b Barrett 1 <R. L. Mason c Cooke b Barrett... 12 H. W. Norton l.b.w. b Barrett... 3 0. B. Hiekman c and b Cragg ... 21 ■ t .J. D. Everton b Cragg 0 \T. A. Fuller b Cragg 35 A. Simmonds b Cragg 0 HV. T. Cooke b Cragg 0 ; Extras 6. 180 Fall of wickets: 0. 65, 67, 87, 99, 122. 122, 180, ISO, ]RO. Bowling: Bowler 6 ovors 0 for 46* Ciagg 8 overs 6 for 23, Matthews 5 OAers 0 for 50, Barrett G overs 4 for

23, Potter 3 overs 0 for 19, Carter 2 overs 0 for 11. PICTON, Ist Innings. F. C. Potter c Mills b Mason ... 8 R. Cragg l.b.w. b Hiekman ... 27 W. Barrett b Hiekman 24 T. Matthews c and b Hiekman ... 16, Ptrano b Hiekman f F. Bowler b Hiekman ... L* J. Esson b Neale : 0 Wilkinson b Hiekman o H. Carter b Hiekman 0 Thompson .c Neale b Everton ... 8 Cooke not out 1 Extras I 2 112 Fall of wickets: 13, 61, 75, 78, 81, 86, 95, 108, 112. Bowling: Monro 5 overs 0 for 24, Mason 7 overs 1 for 32, Hiekman 7 overs 7 for 25, Neale 4 overs 1 for 14, Evertoi 1 over 1. for 3. Next Saturday's matches will be: Wairau v. Marshlands, at Marshlands; Old Boys v. Picton, at Picton. AUSTRALIA v. SOUTH AFRICA. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association CAPETOWN, Nov. 22. The South Africans' first innings realised 127. The Australians made 359 for five wickets—Collins (not out) 202.