MID-WEEK CRICKET.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIV, Issue 930, 31 January 1924, Page 2

MID-WEEK CRICKET.

RAILWAY v. OLD BOYS. A SLOW WICKET. Only one fixture in the mid-week cricket competition was contested at the sportsg'ound yesterday when Railway met the competition leaders, Old Boys, unusual interest being centred in the game owing to its important bearing on the championship. I r.fortunately for Railway they were without the services of McVicar and Mullins, but the_ return of Onglev from his holiday t >ur with the IN oreads proved a valuable asset and his score of 66 was the redeeming feature of a somewhat colourless innings, t la Boys had a strong side and throughout displayed keenness in the field. Railway, winning the toss, elected to bat c n a wicket which had been made somewhat slow by the rain overnight. Ongley and Lawrence were the opening pair, Hope and Harrison taking up the attack for Old Boys. Play was quiet and runs mounted slowly, Ongley being the more aggressive. With the total at 63 Lawrence was given out to a i.oubutful l.b.w decision. He had compiled 3 3 by careful cricket. Wakelin, who followed, was at the wicket for some time for His two runs. A similar situation was evidenced in Pegden’s innings, and although he telegraph had recorded 78 when the batsman stepped back on to his wicket when playing a slow break hall from Brace, le had only contributed a single. Ongley wrought his innings to a close by mishitting llrace into Hope’s hands at point. Of a .otal of 97 he had contributed 66. The tail, with the exception of Hollier, who, like Lawrence, reached the unlucky number 13, failed to contribute very materially and the innings closed at 116. Railway batted 10 men. Brace, the Old Boys’ slow break bowler, did big damage among the tail end, securing six wickets at a cost of 32 runs. Old Boyg entered on their innings at 5.35 p.in., Burke and Tier opening to the attack of Ongley and Hollier. Runs came quickly, both batsmen displaying keenness between the wickets. Of a total of 17 Tier had contributed four when he stepped in front to Ongley and was given out l.b.w. Hope opened his account with a single, but Hollier, olf the last ball of the over, shattered his wicket. Matters continued to run badly for Old Boys for Tucker, the incomer, was tempted by Ongley and was clean bowled. Anderson had, like his predecessor. added a single when he put up an easy catch to Ho'lier off Ongley. The bowler’s average was at this stage reading three wickets for 11 runs. Burke was, however, batting confidently and, with the arrival of Brace, stopped the rot and played out time, the telegraph at time of drawing of stumps reading 60, Burke being stiff unbeaten with 33 to 1113 credit and Brace having 11. Following are the detailed scores: Railway:—First innings: Ongley o Hope b Brace 66, Lawrence- l.b.w b Randall 13, Wakelin b Brace 2, Pegden hit wicket 1, Hollier e Burke b Brace 13, Churchill stpd. Bennett b Brace 5, Liddell b Brace 2, Chapman b Harrison 5, O’Brien not out 0, Nasmith b Brace 0; extras 9, total 116. Bowling analysis: Harrison 1 for 32, Hope 0 for 25, Randall 1 for 10, South 0 for 12, Brace 6 for 32. Old Boys.—First innings: Burke not out 33, Tier l.b.w. b Ongley 4. Hope b Hollier 1, Tucker b Ongley 1, Anderson o Hollier b Onglev 1, Brace not out .11; extras 9, total for four wickets 60. A Melbourne telegram states that though Gregory is unlikely to bo available as a fast bowler, it is not anticipated that his injury will materially affect him as a batsman or a fieldsman. In (he match in Sydney yesterday, New South Wales in their second innings made 321 (Kippax 65, Hendry 73). Victoria in their second innings lost two wickets for 195 (Ponsford 110 not out) and won by eight wickets.