COMPETITION CRICKET

Taranaki Daily News, 29 January 1929, Page 5

COMPETITION CRICKET

KAPONGA’S NARROW DEFEAT

USEFUL SECOND WICKET STAND.

S. BETTS REGISTERS A CENTURY.

In the South Taranaki senior cricket competition on Saturday, Eltham defeated Kaponga by three runs on the first innings, gaining a two-point win, but only time prevented Kaponga from turning the tables in the second innings. S. Betts, unbeaten at 101, and Abbott, also unbeaten at 54, were responsible for the score showing 155 for one wicket, at which stage Kaponga declared. At the call of time Eltham had lost eight wickets for 8l runs. Detailed scores: ELTHAM. First Innings. Hopkins, run out 0 Arthur, b Harrison -■ - 1 Ryburn, c and b Betts 22 Donnelly, c Fitzgerald 1> Betts 44 Kerr, b Harrison 1° Gover, c Fitzgerald bV. Betts ...» 0 J. Avery, jun out 1 Ausford, b Harrison b Avery senr., b Harrison 9 Gower, not out I’4 M. Donnellv, stpd Betts 1 Extra i I . Total W Bowling analysis.—AL Betts took four wickets for 8 runs; Harrison, two for 40: Saddler, none for IS; Fitzgerald, none for 25. Second Innings. Donnelly’, c Abbott - Saddler 50 Ryburn, l.b.w. b Betts ‘1 Hopkins, c Abbott b Saddler 6 Arthur, c Harrison b Saddler ...... 9 Gover, b Harrison 9 Kerr, b Harrison 0 Gower, b Betts 4 J. Avery, b Harrison * Ausford. not out Avery- senr., not out 1 Extras “

Total (for eight wickets) .... 81

Bowling analysis.—Harrison i - 00 ‘ < three wickets for 14 runs; Saddler, three for 16; V. Betts, two for 20; Fitzgerald, none for 6.

KAPONGA. First Innings. S. Betts, c and b Donnelly ■ J 1$ Abbott, b Donnelly • V. Betts, c Arthur b Donnelly 35 Melville, b Donnelly Harrison, b Donnelly , -3 Fitzgerald, b Donnelly' 0 Plunkett, c and b Arthur 3 Albon, b Donnelly - | Saddler, c Rybtirn b Arthur 1 Tonkin, b Arthur' 0 Brewer, not out 0 , Extras 3 Total 91 Bowling analysis.—Donnelly took seven wickets for 32 runs; Arthur three for 26; Cover, none for 11; Kerr, none for 19. Second Innings. Alelville, l.b.w. b Hopkins 0 Abbott, not out S. Betts, not out 10 1 Extras 0 Total (for one wicket declared) 155 Bowling analysis.—Hopkins took one wicket for 22 runs. Five other bowlers were unsuccessful in. taking any wickets. BARRACKERS AND LOWRY. AN ELECTRICAL ATAIOSriIEItE.

It was in the violent heat of an electrical atmosphere at Eden Park when Auckland was fighting a grim, uphill battle against Wellington (says the Sun). The nerves of the Wellington men were on a raw edge as a result of the heckling they were receiving from a section of the crowd on the ‘'hill. ’ Wellington had been appealing, and their appeals ttook the form of a perfect roar from half a dozen exasperated voices. Smarting under several decisions, to which they did not take kindly, i and firmly of the. opinion that the Auckland wicket-keeper had been indulging in the gentle art of “pointing,” and getting away with it, they took no pains to hide their feelings. The day was hot, and a feeling of irritation was in the air. It was "not confined to the Wellington fieldsmen. The slow rate of 'scoring and the tenseness of the situation was getting on the crowd's nerves. Dozens of irresponsible urchins, on school holidays, were mimniieking Wellington’s fiery “How-zat!” and a section of the crowd, equally irresponsible, started to east offensive epithets at the Wellington players. It was in the heat of a particularly lively verbal barrage that a most objectionable expression was hurled at the Wellington captain.

Tom Lowry is a rather easy-going chap as a rule. But the insult brought a dangerous glint to his eye. Waiting till the crowd’s attention was# focussed elseM'here, he walked over toward the vicious interjector, and spoke a feu' brief and earnest words.

Lowry looks to be somewhere about 14 stone in weight. ' He has a couple of massive fists which wicket-keeping and hard work on a sheep run have helped to develop. A seared-looking “gentleman,” all his loquacity gone and his face growing white, suddenly decided that he had urgent business in the city. He left the ground hurriedly.

Apart from the nature of the language used, there was a touch of the ludicrous in the final denouement which helped to ease the, tension. But the underlying feeling developed during a grim four-day battle remained to the end.