Fluctuating Fortunes Give Manawatu Strong Position

Manawatu Times, Volume 61, Issue 9, 11 January 1936, Page 4

Fluctuating Fortunes Give Manawatu Strong Position

J. Omgley’s 66 Was Exception to ■ Indiflerent Batting

Southland Repeat Home Side’s Mid-innings Debacle

Cricket of a kind very different from that in the New Year match against Nelson, but presenting a situation equally, interesting, was wit. nessed at the Sportsground yesterday when Manawatu defended the Hawke Cup against Southland.

Manawatu batted for three hours and 50 minutes to be all out for 230; Southland were at the wickets for two hours and 40 minutes before the close of play and have lost six wickets for 90 runs. The weather overnight had been cruelly disappointing, and it appeared that Southland, after their disappointment a year ago, would again have more cause for lamentation than Job himself. But the sky cleared and the sun shone, drying the wicket without assisting the bowlers materially. Manawatu’s batting was not brilliant for the most part, and a debacle in the middle of the innings showed them with eight wickets down for 132 runs. J. Ongley’s 66 was a glorious exception to the indifference of the display, and changed the complexion of the game. Southland began stolidly, obviously intent on establishing a first innings lead if possible, but the loss of three precious wickets for 10 runs almost shattered their hopes. Being 140 runs behind with four wickets in hand, their' chance is a ■rather lean one.

Home Team’s Innings

■ Manawatu won the toss and Norris elected to send Ms men in, as the absence of sun appeared to make the wicket safe though slow. Tho grass was heavy in the outfield, but a rising breeze promised good things as a drying agent. MeVicar and Robertson opened with extreme caution against Uttley and Pickard, and were content with two maiden overs before McVicar placed a single off Uttley's second over. Robertson promptly followed, and he made seven before McVicar

At this stage three wickets had fallen in well within half an hour

since lunch for the addition of only 12 runs. A Delightful Partnership

scored again. Robertson was unlucky when a shot pulled towards the stand 1 halted a yard short of the boundary/ but they ran for three. ■ McVicar was applauded when he was signalled for the first four of the match off Uttley. The pair then scored more freely, and though McGowan and Carswell took over tho bowling, continued to send the runs along. They appeared set for a prolific partnership, but a shock came-when, with the score at 33, Robertson got. his bat . under . one from Carswell and returned the ball to the bowler, who took an easy catch. Robertson had compiled 22, just twice as many as his partner. Play had been in progress 40 minutes. —31-1-22. McVicar Run Out

The newcomer was Murchison, and after playing himself in ho proceeded to hammer tho bowling. He took two successive fours off Carswell, one to leg and one driven past mid-on. Fifty runs came up in six minutes under the hour. The batsmen were running keenly, as had McVicar and Robertson at the outset, and there was more than one attempt to throw the wickets down. Disaster came off the last ball of Brittenden’s first over, when Murchison called for a run off a short knock. McVicar at first declined, and then could not recover his crease before his bails were lifted. He had appeared to be .well established, although waiting for easy stuff to score from, and his premature departure was a severe loss to the side.—s 3-2-15.

Cutler joined Murchison, and soon got the strength of tho bowling. Tho clouds were now scattering and a scorching sun on the damp pitch threatened to add more hazards to the game. The arrival of Brew, the Southerners’ sixth bowler to lead ,the attack, was greeted by Murchispn sending him squarely to tho rails, and a moment later the batsman reached 30. The scoring rate remained just behind a run a minute, and SO came up after 85 minutes’ play. Murchison was confident against both' bowlers, and at noon again got Brew away to the fence. The fielding was very alort, however, and many good shots yielded no more than a single. Cutler was diffident against Carswell, but when Uttley resumed at the town end placed him to the off for a brace and a single. However, he did not long survive, and was caught out in Uttley’s next over*. The latter was bowling with a packed leg field, having drawn over every available man from the slips, McGowan then had only to step in and tako an easy catch that Cutler poked up to him. —94-3-17. Pive Wickets Before Lunch M. A. Ongley was a brief visitor, for after notching an early 4 off Uttley, 'ho was clean-bowled by: Br'itteuden with a moderately-paced ball that swung in late.—99-4-4. With four of their best wickets gone for 99, the position did not look too rosy for Manawatu, and Norris was content to wait for' loose ones when he joined Murchison. The first century was signalled at 12.25 p.m., when Murchison secured a brace off Carswell, who . had again replaced Uttley on the town end. Patrick put himself above the river, and in his first over added to the discomfiture of the home side by clean-bowling Murchison with an innocent-looking delivery. Tho batsman was one run short of the halfcentury and had been at the wickets for 86 minutes. Though he had' been more aggressive than the other batsmen, he had never been really on-top of the bowling. He made five 4’s.— 114-5-49.

Gallichan joined his skipper, but only four runs were added when the luncheon adjournment was taken. Gallichan was not out 4, and Norris had one. Extras were 7. Afternoon Disasters

A mere live runs had been addeu after lunch from the bowling of Patrick and Carswell, when the latter broke Norris’ wicket, the captain having six against his name.—-124-6-6. The impression of a dangerous procession was strengthened when Gallichan succumbed in the next over to a catch by Spence off Patrick.—l3o-7-5.. Hallamore, the ex-Southlander, joined J. Ongley, and after securing a brace went out leg before to Patrick, who now had three wickets for 16 runs.— 132-8-2.

Hearsey went out to meet the attack at a critical juncture, but put great heart into his stroking, and with Ongley hardly less vigorous, 'the pair turned on one of tho bright patches " of the innings. Patrick and Carswell' were both knocked for fours; 150 was brought up without further loss. Carswell tried to tempt ' Ongley with- a particulalry slow ball sent down short, but Ongley's reply was to .go out and meet it, sending the ball to the leg pickets. The young batsmen were a treat to watch Tunning between the wickets, and their performance was the more meritorious as the Southerners, urged on by success, were fielding brilliantly in all positions and throwing in excellently. Well-deserved singles brought Ongley ’to 20 and ths tally to 170' at 2.46 p.m-, Pickard and

Brittenden resumed tho bowling in an endeavour to arrest the scoring. Hearsey reached 20 five minutes after his partner, who took two beautiful fours off Brittonden to send up" 180, less than an hour sinco the resumption of play. McGowan returned at the river end, but was eventually pasted with tho rest of them, though taken cautiously in hjs first over. A parade of singles slowed up the scoring, but Ongley got one from McGowan away to leg for 4, and 190 appeared at 3.15. That, however, was eventually the end of a prolific and invaluable partnership, worth GP runs/ for in the fifth ball of Uttley’s next over Hearsey got his leg in front.—l 93-9-23. Berquist was last man in, and kept his end up while Ongley completed tho side’s second century at 3.20 p.m. This he did, after a brace and a-three, with a delightful four to fine leg off Uttley. His next stroko also found the fence, this time at squaro leg, and the next was stopped just short. McGowan, from the other end, was likewise knocked to tho outside, and Ongley reached his 50 to become top scorer in the side. This was tho signal for renewed confidence, and Ongley’s stroking became a real pleasure to watch. Berquist endeavoured to leave him all the bowling, but when compelled to face it occasionally he shaped very nicely. Totals of 210, 220, 230 were successively signalled, the last obtained with an on-driven four in front of the stand.. Tho next ball told a different talc, however, for Ongley stepped out to meet it, missed, and was stumped by Hawko off Patrick’s delivery. Manawatu’s innings closed at 3.35 p.m. for 230 runs. Ongley’s 66 was certainly an outstanding contribution, his tally having occupied an hour and a-quartcr. Ten fours were included. The best bowling figures wore those of Patrick, tho Southland captain, who, after putting himself on just before lunch, finished with four wickets for 35 runs. Southland Begins Slowly

Spence and Brew were tho opening pair for Southland, and Berquist took the first over from the river end, with Murchison at tho othor. The runs be<ran slowly, but singles wero taken ad round the field in pretty fashion. Hearsey and Gallichan took over at tho river and town end _ respectively, and each cost a single his first over. The batting was extremely desultory, but not timid, and none of tho bowlers appeared to be occasioning any great concern. Two fours finely glanced by Brew off Berquist just brought up 30 after an hour’s play. A separation was soon effected, ho-wever, for in tho next over Brew tipped one from Gallichan up to Murchison at near mid-off. It had been a stolid partnership. —30-1-13. Brittenden joined Spence, who became somewhat moro aggressive, although he had a life off Berquist, being dropped by J. Ongley at mid-off before reaching 20. A brace, to Brittenden brought 40 up after 80 minutes of play. Shortly after Brittenden turned Gallichan to leg for 4 to send 50 up. Gallichan did not find the wicket to his liking, and could not turn the ball much. It was stodgy cricket now, and little attempt was made to collar even the. loose bowling that came along. Manawatu’s sixth bowling hope, Arthur Cutler, came on from the town end, and although his first two deliveries .looked harmless, the third had Brittenden dismissed leg before. There were four runs more than at tho fall of Manawatu’s second wicket. —57-2-16. . ijttley. began stickily, faltering his strokes: n.or was Spence showing him anything 'in'the art of run-getting. A flattering four brought 20 to tho latter after he had been at tho crease for almost two hours, with the total at 63. The slow procession of runs carried the tally to 80 after 2£ hours play, when Cutler, who had just resumed, had his second success. He enticed Spence to lean right forward to a leisurely delivery, and Norri.i whipped, off the bails'smartly. Spence s stand had been lengthy and was thus valuable, but his deliberate stonewalling was scarcely attractive.—Bo-3-27. Anderson’s sojourn was brief. After a single, he lifted Hearsey high and far, just failing to get a sixer but scoring a creditable four. It was Hearsey’s first over for some time, but he was right on the wicket, and tho next ball found Anderson with his leg in the way.—B7-4-5. Five minutes before stumps Uttley, ■who had made amends for his indifferont opening, and had been playing pretty if quiet cricket, was cleanbowled by Hearsey, the ball going through' low. —90-5-13. Just before stumps were due Gallichan rooted Poole’s wicket and the board read 90 —6 —l. It was an inglorious change from Southland's dogged opening. Their chances of a firstinnings lead had almost vanished within half an hour. Hearsey, Cutler and Gallichan have each taken two wickets. .Detailed scores are as follow: — MANAWATU. First Innings. McVicar, run out Ip Robertson, e and b Carswell .... 22 Murchison, b Patrick ........ 49 Cutler, e McGowan, b Uttley .. •• 17 M. A. Ongley, b Brittenden .... 4 Norris, b Carswell .. .. .. .. •• 6 Gallichan, c Spence, b Patrick .. 5 Hallamore, lbw, b Patrick .. .. 2 J. Ongley, stpd. Hawke, b Patrick 66 Hearsey, lbw, b Uttley 23 Berquist, not out .. .. •• *• •• p . Extras • 16

Fall of wickets: 1/33, 2/53, 3/94, 4/99, 5/114, 6/124, 7/130, 8/132, 9/193, 10/230. SOUTHLAND. First Innings.

Spence, stpd. Norris, b Cutler ... 27 Brew, c Murchison, b Gallichan .. 13 Brittenden, lbw, b Cutler 16 Uttlcy, b Hearsey 13 Anderson, lbw, b Hearsey .. . • 5 Poole, c Murchison, b Gallichan * 1 McGowan, not' out 2 Extras • 15

230 Bowling Analysis. 0. M. E. W. Uttley .. 8 3 26 2 Pickard .. .. 10 2 21 0 McGowan. .. , . 0 3 25 0 Carswell . .. ,, 24 6 (55 2 Brittenden .. , # 11 2 28 1 Brew 3 0 14 0 Patrick .. .. 11 1 35 4

Total for six "wickets .. . . a . 90 Fall of wickets: 1/30, 2/57, 3/80, 4/87, 5/90, 6/90. Bowling Analysis. O. M. E. W. Berquist .. .. .. 7 3 7 0 Murchison .. 17 8 27 0 Gallichan . .. •• 17.3 6 21 2 Hearsey 11 7 .8 2 M. A. Ongley 3 1 £ O Cutler. Lta 'sun ,7, I 8 a