Manawatu’s Hawke Cup Challenge

Manawatu Times, Volume LV, Issue 6748, 5 January 1932, Page 9

Manawatu’s Hawke Cup Challenge

CRITICISM OF VISITING TEAM. Tho Manawatu match for tho Hawke Cup was probably the dullest exhibition seen in these games (writes “Long Stop’’ of the AVaikato Times). Almost the whole of the play on Christmas day was stodgy in the extreme, without oven tho interest of bowlers puzzling the batsmen. Apparently the fact that the match carries the importance of being a cup challenge is too much for the majority of players and cramps their ordinary stylo. South Auckland gave a much brighter display, many of their batsmen showing plenty of enterprise and attacking the bowling valiantly; but the visitors’ batting was very uninteresting. The opening paiij for Manawatu, ITolz and Ollivcr, were hard to dispose of, but that is almost as much as one can say for their batting. The former appeared quite devoid of strokes and seemed content to let the ball hit the tat every time. Ollivcr has had a great season in club cricket, making big scores in every strike, but he gave no glimpse of his ability to score here. Cutl/r made a good showing the first time and was well set when he was dismissed by a brilliant catch in the slips by Barnett, but he did not get a start in tho second strike. Gallichan shaped aggressively both times, but was not in long enough to get his eye in; two l.b.w. dismissals fell to his lot and while he was satisfied with the first one, the second did not meet with approval. Norris fell to two good catches after making IS each time in a businesslike manner, the second at a timo when desperately needed. Stephenson, as last year, stood cut as the best batsman, though he was not nearly as sparkling as he was then. To begin with he was rather scratchy, but once settled down, executed some nice strokes, though in tho second innings AYinger beat him badly several times and ho gave a couple of hard chances off Aitken. Of tho younger players, Lang played soundly the first time, whilo Ongley gave quite the best exhibition of the side in his second strike. Coming in when the game was virtually lost —they had just overtaken the first innings’ deficit and had only three more wickets to fall —Ongley attacked the bowling freely and executed somo sparkling shots all round tho wicket. AVith Hatch ho ran some good singles and this pair kept the score moving fast. Had these tactics been adopted from the start the visitors would probably have made a considerably stronger bid for victory.

Their Bowlers. Gallichan and Larig were Manawatu’s best bowlers, both being effective as wicket getters. The slow bowler kept a great length and mado a lot of paco off tho wicket. It was surpris ing the amount of spin he acquired on a hard, fast wicket. For the most part the batsmen found his shorter pitched bowls easier to score from, than those pitched up. In tho first innings ho bowled a great number of maidens, eight in succession at one stage too many for a. slow bowler. Lang kept a very good length over long periods and had just enough variety to keep the batsmen playing him. Hatch was fairly fast and kept the ball short, making it kick awkwardly, but he had no success at all. Berquist was seldom dangerous, except to left-handers, strangely enough, his left-hand deliveries swinging away behind the batsmen’s legs were, however, a leg trap of three men received no chances. Umpires Sympathetic. The umpires had a busy time and tho bowlers found them in sympathetic mood; seven l.b.w. decisions went against the batsmen during the match and there were three stampings and ono close run out. The mere numbers convey little but so many decisions make one wonder whether the umpires really do give tho batsmen the benefits to which they are entitled.