CRICKET REVIEW

Opunake Times, 31 March 1939, Page 2

CRICKET REVIEW

SEASON IN OPUNAKE

DOUBLE ECU DONNELLY

Bat and ball will soon be laid aside with the end of the. cricketing season for 1938-39, but memories of the past year will linger in the minds of enthusiasts. In Opunake, there was a doubtful augury, followed bv keener midseason interest and a slow fadeout, but in view of the doubt which at the opening- surrounded the ability of the club to continue, the season js to be regarded as a successful one.

Many young players, recruit ed from the High School, have this season won their spurs in omnnctitipn play, and thev should form part of a solid nucleus for the next eleven representing Opunake. and wil f l repair more pcnyanently the gaps left through the withdrawal of older supporters. Their ’ repress las been watched with givat miterest, and the promise they have shown has been encouraging.

Opening the competition series with a win, Opunake failed Ip register further points until the season was well advanced, and. throughout the contest, secured only one 3-point win. In 15 competition matches played, four were won, with a points tally of nine, and the remainder were lost, the majority on innings decisions. It is worthy of note, however, that while Opunake scored an aggregate of 1775 runs in competition play, the combined tallies of opponents were only 133 G. Opunake’s batting average of 6.22 runs per wicket, however, compared with 6.74 recorded by opponents. Team captain H. 0. Donnelly top]>ed both batting and bowling averages and thus secures the “double.” In batting, he was at the wicket on 23 occasions, being once not out, scored an aggregate qf 313. including a top score of 54, and finished with an average of 14.2. Best score in competition play was that of L. Dobbin, who had 56 to his credit in a high-scoring match against Eltham, while. 11. S. McCullum had the greatest number of sessions at the wicket. An impartial examination of the records would indicate that the most improved batsman was. I. Blackman, who, as a tail-ender for several fixtures, was unbeaten more often than ajiy other. With his batting position exalted, he

joined the. principal run-getters, and finished with a creditable average. It may be noted that only four batsmen exceeded the average wicket yield of 6.22 runs.

Bowling records are incom

nlete as to the number of overs bowled, but they show Donnelly as No. 1 trundler with an average of 5.3, his “bag” just exceeding the half-century. Most destructive bowler was E. G. Snell, with a total capture of 63 wickets for the season. Two

bowlers came out of the “stock” class dxiringy the season to form a very considerable part, of the Opunake attack, these being L. Dobbin and S. Cave. The latter, who had the most incredible bad luck during the early part of the season, was at the peak of his form towards the close, and with a greater degree of uniformity he would have topped the class. Eight catches brought off by Snell secured for him the fielding honours, and Donnelly is handy with seven. Behind the sticks. McCollum was very useful, and his appeal to the Umpire for stampings succeeded on five occasions.

Detailed averages are as fo' low:

CATCHER E. G. Snell 8. H. O. Donnelly T. -7. E. Dudley 5, B. Dobbin - r >. N. Sorenson &. IT. R. McCollum 4. K. do Castro 4. 77. MeTavisb 1. T. Butterini 4. T. Yep 3. V. Elgar 3. I. Blackman 3. .1. Wool ford 2, R. Cave 2, J. Tito, B Clegg. K. Mnnro 1 each

STUMPINGB IT. S. McCullum 5. T. Butterini 1.

Tennis and Cricket An exchange of contests has been arranged between tbe Cricket Club and tbe Tennis Club, and tbe respective teams will engage tb.eir opponents m Heir parti lar games. The competition opens tomorrow with a cricket

match commencing at 1.30 p.m| and there is considerable inte" est m the fixture. The. Cricket Club team will be: J. Yep, Q T G I)obbil1 - H. Donnelly, I. Blackman. S. McCullum, j. Dudley, 8, Cave, B. MeTavisb. Y. Sorenson. K de Castro, J, Hichams.

BATTING I. N.O. H.S. R. Av. Donnelly 28 1 54 813 14.2 Dobbin 22 1 56 268 12.8 VV ooltord 6 0 34 75 12.5 Snell 25 0 34 261 10.4 EUffar 18 1 42x 103 6 Cie w 4 0 9 21 5.3 Blackman 24 8 18 82 5.1 McTuvisb 18 0 8 46 3.5 McCullum 27 0 24 96 8.5 Cave 25 3 11 67 3 Butterini 19 1 33x 52 2.9 do Castro 10 0 7 26 2.6 Sorenson 15 2 84 18 2.6 Dudley 28 8 12 45 2.8 1 ep 15 2 12x 23 1.8 Richards 9 5 lx 2 .5 (x denotes not out) Donnelly BOWLING R. ... ... 276 W 52 Av 5.8 Snell ... 411 63 6.5 Cave 154 19 8.1 Dobbin .. 186 21 8.9 Woolford 28 8 9.8 de Castro 58 6 9.6 Blackman 10 1 10 Dudley ... 88 o 1-9 El,fra r ... 28 1 28