CRICKET

Southland Times, Issue 21649, 10 March 1932, Page 8

CRICKET

TOWN V. EASTERN RETURN MATCH AT GORE A DRAWN GAME The return cricket match between Town and Eastern District was played on the Hostel Grounds, Gore, yesterday, in ideal cricketing wealher. It was hoped to commence the game at 1 p.m., but it was nearly two o’clock when the players took the field, the late start making the chances of a decision being reached extremely remote. It would be wise if a match of this importance were commenced in the morning. Four and a-half hours of play are insufficient for anything like a satisfactory finish. ■ Town won the toss, but let Eastern have first strike, the country representatives, after a poor start, amassing the good total of 265, to which O’Shea contributed a well made 68. Town had less than two hours to bat and never looked like reaching Eastern’s score. The early batsmen, however, shaped well, the board reading 96 for four wickets. Then when there was only about ten minutes to go the incomers went for a hit and three wickets fell rapidly, the score when stumps were drawn at 7 p.m. being 123 for seven. The match was a most enjoyable one and served to show that the Eastern District team's form in the first match against Town was not true. In batting, bowling and fielding the country' team performed meritoriously yesterday. The Play. Bogue and Rush opened for Eastern to the bowling of Macdonald and McGowan. Runs came slowly, neither batsman taking risks. When the" total was six Rush was bowled by a good one from Macdonald. 6—l—4. Next over disaster overtook Bogue, Nisbet taking a good catch off McGowan's bowling. 6 —2 —1. Macara who followed Rush notched a four when he was caught by Wish off Macdonald. 18 —3—4. Faulks had shown enterprise ar.d had registered a couple of boundaries, but he, too, fell a victim to Macdonald’s good bowling, Driscoll taking a good catch. 18—4—8.

The situation was anything but promising for Eastern, but O’Shea and Millar changed the whole complexion of the game by a partnership which produced 90 runs. O’Shea gave a fine exhibition of clean hitting, while Millar was very safe, picking the right ball to score off. Hamilton, the Town skipper, changed the bowling fairly frequently, but the batsmen were not disturbed. Parry was particularly relished by O’Shea, 19 being scored off the Bluff man in his one over, including a hefty hit for six by O’Shea. It was only after the afternoon tea adjournment had been taken that the partnership was broken, Millar being bowled by a good one from Nisbet. 108—5—25.

Grant, the incomer, shaped well, driving with vigour at anything loose. He and O’Shea took the score to 143 before Nisbet bowled the latter with a beautiful ball. O’Shea was loudly applauded for his dashing 68. Townsend wasted no time, running to 16 in five shots, including a fine straight hit for six. The Eastern allrounder was dismissed by a good catch by Macdonald off his own bowling. 145 —7-—16. The tail w'agged to good effect, the Edievale pair, Edie and Caffell, batting well for 17 not out and 21 respectively. With 9 extras and a four by' Don Agnew the total reached 205 —a really good performance by the Eastern side. Macdonald was the outstanding Town bowler, finishing with the good average of seven for 53. Nisbet also bowled well from the northern end. Southland’s Strike. It was after five o'clock when the Town side commenced their innings. The task facing them, 206 to make in less than two hours, was a formidable one, and the slow scoring of the opening pair, Hamilton and Milne, gave no promise of the Easterners’ good total being overhauled. Agnew and Caffell were bowling well. Twice Milne was missed in the slips off Caffell. Faulks replaced Agnew and Millar replaced Caffell, and the scoring rate improved, several fours being recorded. When the total was 28 Milne went lbw to Millar. The outgoing batsman had scored 11 and was a bit unlucky, as he touched the ball before it hit his pads. Wilson, the incomer, signalized his arrival by some pretty shots down the gully. Hamilton began to open out and found the boundary on a couple of occasions as well as getting several brace. The bowlers were changed fairly frequently and Edip’s tactics proved successful, Rush getting WiLron when the Union batsman tried to hook a straight ball. 56 —2—ll. Esquilant was next. Very shortly after his arrival Hamilton cocked one from Edie to Grant at square leg. 61— 3 —34. Hamilton’s knock was a good one, the one bad shot being that which caused liis dismissal. The Easterners were fielding well an<i runs were hard to get.

McGowan, who followed Hamilton, was content to get his eye in before taking any risks. Occasionally, however, he scored with pretty strokes. At 6.30 pun. the score was 75 for three wickets. Then both batsmen opened out and the score mounted rapidly until at 90 Esquilant was run out. He had scored 16 by careful cricket. Macdonald had not scored when he went out to hit Townsend and Bogue had the bails off. 97 —s—o.5 —0. Anticipating that stumps were to be drawn at 6.45 p.m. (a few minutes distant) Nisbet went for a hit. His first one brought two runs, but his second attempt proved fatal, Rush getting his wicket. The remaining Town batsmen had counted on the game being over and their services not being required. Wish and Parry came out to bat in their “civilian” clothes. The former went after scoring three, but the Bluff man held his end up until at 7 o’clock time was called, the score reading 123 for seven. McGowan carried his bat for a stylishly made 28. Of the Eastern bowlers, Millar and Rush were the most successful. Edie set a fine example to his men in the field. The detailed scores were: — EASTERN. Bogue c Nisbet b McGowan 1 Rush b Macdonald 4 Macara c Wish b Macdonald 4 Faulks c Driscoll b Macdonald 8 O’Shea b Nisbet 08 Millar b Nisbet 25 Grant c Driscoll b Macdonald 28 Townsend c and b Macdonald 16 Edie not out 17 Caff ell b Macdonald 21 Agnew c Wish b Macdonald 4 Extras 9 Total 205 Bowling Analysis:—Macdonald took seven wickets for 53 runs, Nisbet two for 43, McGowan one for 43, Hamilton none for 27, Parry none for 19, Wish none for 12. TOWN. Hamilton c Grant b Edie 34 Milne lbw b Millar 11 Wilson b Rush 11 McGowan not out 28 Esquilant run out 16 Macdonald st. Bogue b Townsend 0 Nisbet b Rush • 2 Parry not out 4 Wish c Macara b Millar 3 Extras 14 Total for seven wickets 123 Bowling Analysis:—Millar took two wickets for 20 runs, Rush two for 15, Edie one for 9, Townsend one for 14, Agnew none for 15, Caffell none for 9.