Manawatu Retain Hawke Cup

Manawatu Times, Volume 60, Issue 66, 20 March 1935, Page 8

Manawatu Retain Hawke Cup

Southland’s Challenge Game Drawn With Honours Even

Murchison and R Hatch Save Home Side on Sodden Wicket

»um,iiiz.na failed in their Hawke Cup challenge in the game which, concluded on a sodden wicket, resulted in a draw with honours even. There was no play on tlie second day of the match and further heavy rain on Monday night restricted yesterday’s play to about 130 minutes, during which time the challengers made a hold hut unavailing bid to dismiss Manawatu’s remaining batsmen and to win the Cup with a lirst innings margin. When stumps were drawn Manawatu still had two wickets in hand and required 14 runs to win on the first innings.

THE PARTNERSHIP THAT SAVED MANAWATU. With a sodden wicket, 90 runs to get and only five wickets to fall, Manawatu’s supporters were very anxious when Murchison and R. J. Hatch went to the wickets to continue the home side’s innings. They used not have been anxious, However, for Murchison ancl HatcU proved quite equal to tho occasion. They hatted like champions and would have scored enough runs to have won the match but fur an unfortunate call which cost Hatch his wicket, run out. They added 70 runs on the sixth wicket, however, and the Cup was safe before the partnership was broken. Hatcn was brilliant without being rasn, while Murchison, after an anxious over or two, was steadiness personified. Yesterday’s Play. When tho wicket was inspected before lunch it was in a shocking state and play was out of the question. There were pools of water at each end and water all along tho length of the pitch, one spot near the popping crease on the Esplanade end, being in a particularly bad state. At 2 o’clock there was a further inspection and although the wicket had dried somewhat, it was still not fit for play. Having conic a long distance in search of tho Cup, Southland were anxious to continue tho game being possessed of an excellent chance of victory in a one innings game. The umpires, Messrs G. K. Hollier and C. Woodham, made further inspections but could see little chance of tho wicket drying sufficiently for play. Southland made repeated requests, however, and about 4 o’clock the Manawatu skipper, W. E. Norris, signified that Southland could have their chance of getting a decision. Sawdust was procured and plentifully spread round tho wickets to give the batsmen some chance of keeping their feet and at 4.1 S the stumps were in position and Murchison (41 not out) and R. J. Hatch had gone out to continue the Manawatu innings.

Patrick was making rapid changes, Brittenden going on at the Esplanade end. Hatch drove him for a single through the covers. Two balls later one went for a leg-bye. Hatch hooked the next for a single and the partnership had been worth 30, Hatch being 21 and Murchison 48.

Hatch and Murchison both got McColl awrny for singles and 150 ivas signalled at 5.20. The light was now beginning to fade. The fast bowler, Burdue, took over from Spence at the town end and Hatch square cut the first ball for a single. Murchison repeated the shot two balls later, the single giving him his half century amid applause. The next score was in Purdue’s second over, Hatch turning one to leg for a brace.

Scaudrctt relieved Brittenden and found Murchison still playing tho rock. The suu was now shining brightly and it was well down making a difficult light. Pickard came back on the town end and Hatch drove one hard against Spence’s buck. He then turned one to leg for a couple. In Scandrctt’s next over each batsman got one away to cover on a single. Two runs came off Pickard’s next over, a singlo to Hatch and a ”ho ball.” Tho partnership had now been worth 42, made in 79 minutes, ICO was telegraphed at 5.45. Hatch then roused the spectators when ho hit Seandrett out of the ground over the square leg boundary. Hatch w r as now 35 and Murchison 51.

Singles to each batsman off McColl and the sixth wicket had been worth 50. McColl took over from Scandrett and his lirst ball kicked up a bit, Hatch wisely letting it alone. The next was a full toss on the leg side and Hatch promptly hit it out of the ground for another six. He then glanced one to tine leg for two and the next to leg for an easy single. Hatch was becoming aggressive but hard drives were being iielded in fine style. Hatch turned Pickard to leg for 2 and ISO went up. Murchison snicked McColl to fine leg for a single and Hatch drove one to cover for a single. HaUamore came on at the town end and Hatch got him away to cover for a single. Murchison then tapped one up the wicket and they ran a cheeky single. A straight drivo by Hatch followed, the singlo giving him his half century, the batsman being roundly cheered. Murchison was 54 and it had now become a contest between the two as to who was to get Mr L. J. Cookery's trophy for Manawatu's highest score. A full blooded straight drive by Hatch right along the carpet went to the sight screen and Manawatu required 20 to equal Southland's total. They then tried for a short single but Poole brilliantly fielded and returned the ball for Hawke to break the wicket, Hatch being still short of his ground.

Scandrett, with one ball to go, completed his over from tho Esplanade end, Hatch blocking it. Then Pickard bowled a maiden over to Murchison. McColl took up the attack at the other end and he set a leg trap which Hatch penetrated for a single off the first ball. Murchison felt for tho first two and then hit one to cover for a single. Hatch blocked tho next and hooked the following one, a full toss for 4. Murchison was content to meet the next over with the full face of tho bat but he put a nice one down the gully off the last ball, no run coming. Hatch chopped the second ball of the next over through the slips for a single. Rain had again commenced to fall but not for long. McColl then had Murchison guessing but failed with a confident appeal on leg before. Murchison turned McColl to leg for an easy single in his next over and Hatch drove the next ball for another single, two coming off the over. Hatch then cut Pickard forward off point for a risky single, tho batsmen, in the mud, finding it hard to get off the mark. In McColl ! s next over Hatch cover drove him for a single. Murchison then had a go at one oil tho leg side. He missed and the ball brushed his pad, and there was a coniident, though unavailing appeal for a catch.

The total was ISS and Hatch had scored 54 in a sjilendid fighting innings lasting 102 minutes. Ho hit two G’s and two 4’s, The partnership added 70 runs.

M. Ongley opened his account with a single to fine leg, Murchison getting another single past point in the same over to send 190 up. The time was just after 6.G p.m. M. Ougley was watching the ball very closely, obviously waiting for a loose one before having a go. Brittcndcn was back on the Esplanade end, being “no balled." Pickard was at the oilier end and both were keeping an immaculate length. Pickard then got Onglcy who snicked one to be taken by Hcandrett in the slips. The score was 191, the time G. 15, and with three wickets still in hand, Manawatu required another IS runs fo ■■ victory. Monteith was next and the ligbc was very bad when he went to' the wickets, the sun being just above the hon/ou and the shadows right access the ground.

The time was now 4.45. Scandrett relieved McColl at the Esplanade end, opening to Murchison, who glanced tho third ball through the slips for a single, 130 going up on the board.

The scoring was very slow for a bit and Hatch gave tho spectators a thrill when he played an uppish stroke off Scandrett, near Brittenden in the slips. Three came off the over, and one of them would have been a boundary but for the heavy outfield. Hatch was batting freely but with the slow travelling ball, he was finding it difficult to get through the gaps in the field. He tried for a big drive off Scandrett and failed to get on to the ball, but he deflected it through the slips for a brace. Spence now replaced Pickard at the town end and he bonded a maiden to

Off the last ball of Briucndun's next over, Mucchisou snicked one to line leg for a single. He glance! Pickard's first delivery for a brace, the score being 194. He then cut one -down the gully for a single, Monteith then taking strike to Pickard, Mcnteith stayed out the over. Murchison, who was batting magnificently, was now facing Bmiesdf.u, and after asking for ihe sight, screen to be shifted, he ivtm content, to play every ball with ’.lie middle of his bat.

Murchison. Scandrett then bowled a maiden to Hatch, who failed to get past Patrick with a couple of clinking drives. Murchison began the next over with a cover drive for 2 and the only score of the over.

Monteith thin "Howed suit and at the end of the over the time was 0.27.

The spectators got a thrill in the next over. Hatch put one forward of point and called for tho run, Murchison just getting home in time. Hatch put Spence through the covers for a brac6 to send 140 up. He followed with a single through the slips. Murchison then straight drove ono for a single, 4 coming off the over. The pair had added 25 since play was resumed.

Murchison played another over but the first ball delivered by Pickard jit his next over proved fatal to Monteith. It was a good length ball and Monteith, not attempting to play a stroke, deflected it with his knee, the appeal for leg before being upheld. 195—3—0. K. Hatch joined Murchison. Time was'up and Hatch played out tho over, each ball, as ho blocked it, being recorded by tho spectators. On his return to the pavilion Mur-

Patrick now went on in place of Scandrett, being "no balled" with his second delivery. With McColl on the other end, a double change was made. Hatch watched four and hit the next for a single.

Althougli tho number ,of wireless licences all over Britain shows a continued increase, there was a definite drop of over 9210 in London during a -ectint month.

cliison, who had made 59, was given the ovation he so richly deserved. Hollowing are the detailed set res: Southland —First Innings 20S

MANAWATU—First Linings. K. Olliver, b Purdue 0 C. McViear, c McColl. :> Pickard 0 A. Cutler, e Hawte, b Scandrett 40 J. Murchison, not cut i,<J N. Galliehan, b ScanUrott 7 W. E. Norris, c Pickard, b Scandrett 6 R. J. Hatch, run out ad M. A. Onglcy, c Scandrett, b Pickard 1 L. Monteith, 1.b.w., b Pickard 0 K. Hatch, not out .. 0 Extras -12 Total for eight wickets ~ ..395 Fall of the wickets. 1/0, 2/0, 8/92, 4/104, 5/118, 6/ISS,, 7/191, 8/195. Bowling Analysis.

0. M. li. \Y. Purdue .. .. .. 37 1 Pickard , .. 20 i2 30 3 Me Co 11 44 0 Brittenden .. .. , .. 11 0 21 0 Scandrctt ,» .. 13 3 24 3 Patrick .. .. 9 9 0 0 Spence .. .. .. ;; i 0 0 Hallamorc .. .. 2 n 5 0