DARGAVILLE SHIELD CRICKET Westonf Kelly Give WhaNgarei Great Start

Northern Advocate, 12 March 1948, Page 7

DARGAVILLE SHIELD CRICKET Weston f Kelly Give WhaNgarei Great Start

SENT in to bat after losing the toss, Whangarei made an excellent start in its defence of the Dargaville Shield against Mangonui at Kensington Park this morning. The weather was very threatening and a few drops ot ram came down in the first few minutes of play.

Mangonui’s fielding was scraggy and helped considerably towards the holders’ good showing. Kelly and Weston, the opening bats, handled the attack with confidence, but kelly should have been out when the batsnjen attempted an impossible second run off a shot in the second over.

He was half way up the crease when the ball came back, but it was a poor return and gave the keeper no chance of taking cleanly and whipping off the bails.

.Weston ran into double figures confidently but then had a streaky patch which culminated in his hitting up a simple catch to Rogers rather deep at mid-off. Dawson was the bowler. MISJUDGED CATCH • Rogers misjudged the catch badly and finally attempted a one-handed take which failed. Weston snicked another ball dangerously close to a slip fieldsman shortly after but then settled down again and reached 30 with a beautifully-timed pull off Panther for six. Russell used seven bowlers in the first hour in an effort to break the opening slancl, but 70 runs were posted with Kelly batting safely and soundly and scoring with nicely-placed shots .all round the wicket. He went into the 30’s after 70 minutes when rain fell again and drove spectators to shelter. RAIN CURTAILS PLAY Many of the visiting players had the bad habit of trying to stop ground shots with their feet to Whangarei’s benefit and there was nothing to enthuse about in their out-cricket generally. The rain sent the players scurrying off the field after the game had been in progress 75 minutes when the total was 84 (Weston 47, not out, Kelly 30 not out).

The outlook deteriorated as dark clouds banked up from the east and the rain set in fairly heavily. There was no further play before lunch. Heavy rain fell during the luncheon adjournment and till about 2 o’clock. The clouds then lifted in promising fashion and it was hoped to resume play at 3 o'clock. WHANGAREI First Innings D. Weston, not out 47 A. Kelly, not out extras 7 T>tal (for no wkts) 84