CRICKET NOTES

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 25, 30 December 1936, Page 12

CRICKET NOTES

HAWKE CUP MATCH. NINTH CHALLENGE DEFENDED. (By “Point.”) Nine times the Manawatu representative cricket team has defended the Hawke Cup, winch is the Plunket Shield of the minor associations. Won two seasons ago from Taranaki by one run and one wicket, the cup has been the cause of considerable revenue, and also no little worry to the Manawatu officials; but it has no doubt contributed much to the raising of the standard of senior cricket here. Last season the association experienced a little difficulty at times in securing leave for some of the players to take their places in the representative teams, but at the close of the summer the cup was- still in Palmerston North. Tim visit of the Marylebone cricket team will he remembered by all who have any interest in the game of the bat and the ball, and the heavy loss the association suffered on that occasion was indeed a shock to the association. The retention of the cup through this season would do much to allow the association to rehabilitate itself in that direction. If one looks at the position from merely the mercenary point of view which, after all, is of some importance in view of the fact that with strong finances the association can do far more for those who turn out Saturday after Saturday for their weekly afternoon’s sport, it is to be hoped that the trophy will find a home in Palmerston North for some time yet.

If the match with Wanganui did nothing else, it gave keen followers of the game at this centre a realisation of the fact that the defending team is not of an invincible standard. It is quite true that to those with confidence in the home team the match at no stage appeared to be lost, but all the same stand made by the Wanganui batsmen on the second day of the match, and they wore not the leading batsmen of the side, showed that the attack can lack sting, and had the run-getters been opening men for a strong side there might have been a goodly-sized total at the close of the strike. Three partnerships added 102 runs and, although that is really only moderate scoring, the lesson was there for those willing to learn.

The question naturally arises: Is the Manawatu team a two or three-men combination? The best bowler in the Manawatu, and one of the best in New Zealand of his style, N. Gallichan, was engaged in a Plunket Shield game, and Murchison, a fast bowler, was absent. When Wanganui were making their determined effort Murchison’s bowling would not have been seen at its best because the wicket was definitely not in favour of a bowler who attempts to use pace as his main factor in attack. On the other hand, Gallichan would according to his performances have run through the remainder of the team in workmanlike style. Also, the batting would be very much strengthened with the inclusion of Moloney, and Gallichan too could be expected to do his share in that direction. BATTING PERFORMANCES. To examine the performances of the Manawatu batsmen, the first four, McVicar, Robertson, Cutler, and M. A. Ongley made 24, 48, 36, and 24 runs respectively, while Nonas put on 33 (not out). The five scores are all of useful dimensions, and it is quite reasonable to expect that any one of the five may make a creditable contribution of nearer the 100 than the 50 at any time. Not only that, but there are others who have wielded a bat with great effect in representative cricket. So it is that the team cannot be regarded as being weak in batting strength; j.t is really a strong side. In the bowling, Pritchard and Berquist carry the fast onslaught and Lcet and Speiman lead for the slower bowlers. Cutler and McVicar can also take wickets. So the side is not altogether without good bowlers. There has been a suggestion made, with J. Ongley unavailable, that Hatch could be included in the team with effect to stiffen up the bowling, and there is no doubt that he may be very useful on a wicket which is dry enough to suit him. However, that is a matter which the selector may be relied on to consider, and confirm or reject with good judgment. SOUTHLAND’S CHALLENGE.

It is realised that with their team of last year the next challengers for the Hawke Cup, Southland, will present a tougher problem than Wanganui, and promising though the batting strength of the home side is, and for the ‘best bowling the handlers of the ball may produce, there must be no chances lost if the cup is to remain here. Tho defending team is reasonably well balanced and hope cannot die even if three or four wickets fall for few runs. There are several bowlers, but the team’s strength lies more in batting than in bowling. It is to be hoped that the weather will be such as to give both departments in each team a full try-out. Another point that may be in Manawatu’s favour which was noticeable in the Wanganui game was the character of much of the fielding. The less said about the catching the better, but doubtless there can be an improvement in that section. The Mannwatu men were obviously superior in the field to the visitors and the throwing-in of the local side was greatly in advance of that of the visitors. The latter’s wicketkeeper had a lot of work to do in moving about after the ball when it‘was thrown in.

Another point of difference was in the batting style. Many of the Wanganui batsmen were inclined to move hack when playing the ball, but the Palmerston North men played forward. To those who watched the game attentively when the Wanganui bowlers were trying to displace the Manawatu men from the wickets, it appeared strange that when they secured a wicket they were taken off. That occurred in the majority of cases. The natural assumption would be that when a bowler takes a wicket he bo left at ids post for a few overs more to continue his onslaught uninterrupted. It must have been reassuring to some of the batsmen to see the victor over their previous partners removed from the field of action for the moment. The psychological effect of not having to face that bowler must count for something.

Although the mate'll was abandoned in its final stages the Wanganui team, according to a statement made to the writer by R. I. Sewell, tho captain, were quite satisfied with the result. Mr Sewell handed a graceful compliment to the groundsman (Mr G. ‘Wheatley) in praising the condition of the wicket and he did not forget the umpires. When such points are commented on without any suggestion, as such was the case, it shows a sporting spirit which is pleasing to meet. The visitors did not depart with any “grousing” whatever, and they left a pleasant memory of good play behind them.