Second Successive Century By F. Johnston, Of Old Boys’ Cricket Club

Southland Times, Issue 24001, 16 December 1939, Page 20

Second Successive Century By F. Johnston, Of Old Boys’ Cricket Club

By

NOT OUT

F. Johnston’s performance in scoring another century for Old Boys against Bluff on Saturday marks him as one of the most promising batsmen Invercargill has had for some time. In his previous innings against Appleby he made 127 not out in a display that was marked by practically faultless batting against the best bowling in the senior competition, and although he faced a weaker attack on Saturday his century was a most meritorious one. He has a nice variety of shots, and attacks the bowling vigorously, at the same time looking well to his defence, so that no undue risks are taken. His forward shots were powerful and. most effective. Wesney also put up an excellent showing, and his 52 was the result of a good solid innings in which he gave no chances. These two batsmen took a good deal of sting out of the Bluff bowling after they had been going for some time, although the Barnett brothers were not to be treated lightly. It was unfortunate for Old Boys that Warburton was absent from town, as there was a chance that he might have matched the better scorers. As it was none of the other batsmen put up a really impressive showing, arid the total was mainly a two-man production. Scandrett was going well at 18 when he lifted one for R. Barnett to take. , With the exception of L. Nixey, who made 43, none of the Bluff batsmen was impressive, arid Luzmoor and Gavari made short work of most of them, while Wesney put the finishing touches, taking the ninth wicket with his first ball

and the last one with the first ball of his second over. Old Boys is now in a strong position for the resumption of the games next Saturday.. This team has made great progress this season and the consistency of its performances suggests that it will be a serious contender for the premiership that Appleby has held for some years past.

VETERAN PLAYER’S SUCCESS One of the most interesting features of the senior games on Saturday was the bowling achievement of A. Poole, the veteran Union player, who took three Appleby wickets for nine runs. Poole is the oldest playing member in Invercargill. In his day he was a good change bowler, and he took many wickets both in club and interprovincial cricket. He was also a first-class batsman and scored many centuries. He was captain -of the Southland team several times and was for a number of years a member of the .management committee of the Southland Cricket Association. His son, V. C. Poole, was captain of the Union team until he joined the special military force soon after war was declared. Bowlers were definitely on top on Saturday, conditions generally being in their favour. Thompson, who took four for 18, caught Purdue, one of the opening Appleby batsmen, with a. magnificent catch taken low from one of his I own deliveries. Marshall accounted for the other opening batsman, Spence, with a good ball, and thus two of Appleby’s best run-getters were out of harm’s way early in the gaine. Hamilton, also a good slow bowler who has taken his share of wickets-this season, had-no trouble in taking a couple of wickets cheaply. It is a . long time since Appleby has been dismissed for such a small total. \ A. batsman- who, has showed good, consistent.form this seaspn is>R. ; S\yinney, another veteran player, whose ,24 on Saturday (was, top score, for- the game. Swinney. is not. a . spectacular batsman, but he has a nice /style,'. arid his square , cutting ..is one of his strong points. The bowlers kept on top all the time, and .McKenzie took a heavy toll of the Union wickets, five of which fell to him for 34 ruris. 1

Invercargill made a; better' showing than most other teams, with the exception of Old Boys, due maiply- to MacGibbon and Mackrell, whose. 38 and 39 respectively placed the tearii in a strong position over Marist. Derbie .arid. McGowan were in good bowlirig form and took four wickets each for 47 and .40 runs respectively. O’Sullivan’s .44 for Marist in the opening partnership with Ryan was a bright exhibition, but the other batsmen failed until Britte.nden came in at ninth wicket and knocked up 22. His score included two sixes, one of which he hit into Forth street. Fraser was bowling well and only three runs were scored, off his first four overs. He kept the batsmen scratching all the time and his four wickets were taken at a cost of only 22 runs. JUNIOR SUCCESSES Several players in the junior grades are showing promise, both as batsmen, and an outstanding performance on Saturday was that of irisall, who made 94 while playing for Appleby in a third grade match against Georgetown. One of the Georgetown bowlers, Small, took five wickets for 18.

A. Dawson, who made 27 for Invercargill in a junior B grade match against Bluff, has been batting fairly consistently this season, and has compiled some fair scores. He is also a successful bowler, and his five wickets for 16 on Saturday stamp him as a capable all-rounder.

Old Boys also has some promising material in the junior grade, and one of its batsmen on Saturday, Henderson, took four wickets for 19 and performed the hat trick.