CRICKET

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIX, Issue 46, 23 January 1939, Page 12

CRICKET

HAWKE CUP FIXTURE. MANAWATU’S STRONG POSITION. Per Press Association. NELSON, Jan. 22. The eiul of the first day’s play in the Hawke Cup elimination match saw Manawatu in a strong position, with a first innings total of 337, as compared with Nelson’s score at stumps of 76 for four wickets. The game was played in ideal conditions except for a short shower in the afternoon. The wicket was perfect, giving the batsmen a big advantage. McViear and Broughton opened, the latter going at 19 when the total was 45.

Murchison then batted brightly, giving a fine and chanceless display for 101 in 115 minutes, including 14 fours, mainly from strong off shots McViear was more subdued. Ho survived an early chance and reached 56. With three for 196, a huge total looked possible. Norris and Pollitt went for a dozen each, but Robertson gave a masterly and chanceless display for 75, scoring all round tho wicket with forceful shots.

Six were down for 300 and then a collapse set in, the remainder adding only 37. The Nelson batsmen had never experienced fast bowling of Pritchard’s quality and all except A. Newman were uncomfortable, four wickets falling in 80 minutes for 76.

At stumps Pritchard had secured three for 28 off nine overs The teams are as follow:

Manawatu.—W. E. Norris (captain), C. McViear, B. Broughton, J. Murchison, G. A. Robertson, W. Pollitt, N. Gallichan, S. McViear, I. Campbell, T. L. Pritchard and P. Spelman. Nelson.—J. Newman (captain), S. Wilde, S. Masters, W. R. Voss, A. Newman, H. M. McGirr, M. Jenkins, D. Glover, It. Newman, L. Max and J. Du Feu. Messrs K. M. Jackson "and E. R. Neale are the umpires. Details •—-

MANAWATU. First Innings. C. McViear, c Masters, b Max ... 56 Broughton, b Vass 19 Murchison, b A. Newman 101 Norris, 1.b.w.. bA. Newman ... 12 Robertson, c Masters, b Max ... 75 Pollitt, 1.b.w., bJ. Newman . ... 12 Gallichan, cR. Newman, b Max ... 26 S. McViear, e A. Newman, b Max 14 Campbell, 1.b.w., bJ. Newman ... 4 Pritchard, not out 3 Spelman, c Vass, bJ. Newman ... 0 Extras 15 Total 337 BOWLING.

Fall of wickets.—One for 45, 2 for 131, 3 for 196, 4 for 203 , 5 for 232, 6 for 300, 7 for 325, 8 for 333, 9 for 335. 10 for 337.

NELSON. First Innings. Master's, b Pritchard 6 Wilde, b Pritchard 12 Vass, b Gallichan 21 Newman, not out ... 20 Jenkins, b Pritchard 6 McGirr, not out 9 Extras 2 Total, for 4 wickets 76 RUN OF PLAY. MURCHISON’S FINE CENTURY.

By scoring a chanccless century, J. Murchison proved beyond all doubt that his recent good performances in club matches have been no mere stroke of good fortune. His score included 14 fours.

Norris won the toss and, electing to take first strike, sent Broughton and C. McViear in to open. McViear faced Vaes and opened with a single. The bowling was of medium pace and neither batsman seemed uncomfortable. Broughton drove Vass to the boundary to bring up double figures. When McVioar was six he gave an easy chance to R. Newman off L. Max. the second slip failing to take the ball. Twentyfive appeared on the board in 30 minutes’ play. After 45 minutes’ play Broughton played a ball on to his wickets ofl V ass. —45 —1—19.

Murchison joined McViear. who was then 18. and tho half-century appeared in 50 minutes. J. Newman took over the attack from L. Max and A. Newman went on at the northern end. Tho scoring became faster, with Murchison playing strong off shots. J. Du Feu was given a turn with the ball at the northern end. Both batsmen wore going well and 90 showed on the board in 75 minutes and the first 100 in 80 minutes. Murchison slammed Du Feu to the off boundary with a fine hit. L. Max replaced Du Feu and quietened the scoring with a maiden over. McVicar reached his half-century wit a single off Newman. He scored a four through the slips and an on drive for two, making his total 56 when Masters, the ’keeper, took a snick off L. Max’s bowling.—l3l2—56. Norris was next in and he saw Murchison plav a perfectlv-timed cut to the boundary and then leg-glance Newman to the fence for his half-cen-tury . Murchison’s attractive batting won frequent applause and he lifted the ball for two further boundaries.

At the luncheon adjournment Manawatu had lost two wickets for 155 runs, scored in 120 minutes. Murchison was 65 and Norris 2 not out. Murchison continued to choose the runs after lunch, but Norris was content to take an occasional single. Norris wont out l.b.w. to A. Newman. 196—3—12. Murchison hit two fours and several singles before he cut A. Newman just wide of second slip for another four and his century. Two balls later A. Newman bowled Murchison, thus ending a fine, chanceless innings for 101, including 14 fours. He was at the crease for 115 minutes. 203 4 101. G. A. Roliertson and AV. Pollitt were the new batsmen- McGirr was given his first turn with the ball, three of his five overs being maidens and costing only seven runs. Pollitt was on the defensive for 25 minutes for 12 runs before he went 1.b.w., to J. Newman, 232—5—12. For some time a southerly squall had been approaching along the hills and rain interrupted play from 2.55 to 3.15 p.m. N. Gallichan joined Robertson, who set out after runs. He scored 50 in 65 minutes. Gallichan was going nicelv, hitting hard any loose ones, and lie was 26 before R. Newman caught him in the slips off Max.—3oo G—26. The 300 runs had taken only 220 minutes. Robertson continued in fine style, timing his hits with certainty. With 75 on he looked sot for his century, but he chased one to the off and was. caught behind the wickets by Masters off Max’s bowling. He hit nine fours.—32o7 —-75. Soon afterwards Campbell went l.b.w. to J. Newman (3338 —4) and

S. McViear succumbed to a brilliant one-hand catch by A. Newman —335 — 9—14. The last pair were Spelman and Pritchard, and with only two added to the score Spelman put one into the hands of Vass at mid-on, the innings closing with a total of 337.

HOME BATSMEN UNCOMFORTABLE.

The Nelson batsmen never seemed comfortable against Pritchard, who took three of the four wickets for 28 runs. He bowled nine overs.

S. Masters and S. Wilde opened Nelson’s innings, Masters facing the bowling of Pritchard. He scored six off the first over. Wilde played a maiden over from Murchison and with the second ball of his second over Pritchard bowled Masters.—6 —l- —6.

Vass was the next ba+sman, and it was not long before he gave a hard chance in the slips, off Pritchard. When Vass was eight he was dropped by Pollitt off Pritchard —a high catch to third slip. However, the scoring went on at a good rate, the first- halfhour seeing 29 on +he board. Wilde, who took the off stump.—29—2—12.

With the total at 35, Gallichan replaced Pritchard at the northern end and Pritchard went on in place of Murchison.

Fifty runs came up in 52 minutes. Then Vass, in attempting to drive, was clean-bowled by Gallichan for 21. --52—3—21.

Jenkins was missed by the ’keeper off Pritchard when he was two and he scored only four more before he was howled by Pritchard.—63—4—6. A. Newman and McGirr were together at stumps, the score being 76 for 4 wickets.

0. M. W. R. Vass 18 1 1 86 Max 23 7 4 68 J. Newman 20.6 0 3 80 A. Newman 7 0 2 38 J. Dn Feu 3 0 0 25 ,H. McGirr 9 3 0 25