CRICKET SEASON OPENED

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLV, Issue 21181, 31 October 1938, Page 13

CRICKET SEASON OPENED

South Canterbury Competition

Moderate Scoring Senior cricket in South Canterbury began on Saturday in fine weather and except at Geraldine, on wickets that favoured the batsmen. The surprise of the day was the dismissal of last year’s champion team, Old Boys, for 31 runs by Geraldine, who then made 93. In their second innings Old Boys had reached 58 for the loss of only two wickets at stumps. Playing Temuka at Temuka, Timaru made 151, R. Wilson making a fine 60, and they dismissed Temuka for 50, when bad light stopped play for the day. At the Rectory, High School began well with a score of 195, Watt making 57 and McLeod 48. In reply, Star has lost six wickets for 55 runs. TIMARU START WELL GOOD LEAD ON TEMUKA Timaru made an excellent start for the season to finish the day 101 runs ahead of Temuka on the first innings when play was discontinued shortly before six o’clock owing to the bad light. Timaru made 151 and Temuka 50. Timaru owed its success to steady batting on an easy-paced wicket that had plenty of turn. The fielding of both sides was excellent for the first game, several fine catches being taken and only one, a really difficult one, being dropped. The match was played at Temuka, the outfield being in good order but on the slow side.

Making 60 in fairly good time, R. Wilson was the most successful batsman of the day, and although he was lucky on one or two occasions, his skilful mixture of attack and defence merited a high score. He hit nine fours and one six. Once he had his eye in he was particularly severe on loose balls on the leg side. Walsh played soundly as an opening batsman, and Mills, a newcomer to the side, showed he has the shots and should be an acquisition. Smith was rather impetuous, and Pateman played the penalty of lack of caution when he appeared to be set. Although not making many runs, Purcell made a valuable stay with Wilson for. the seventh wicket, which added 50. The Temuka bowlers lacked length, Dawson being the steadiest with medium-paced off spinners. Reynolds, inaccurate at the beginning, was better late in the innings, when he used the wind well and received more assistance from the wicket which cut up slightly. Johnson earned his wickets by tempting the batsmen, the fieldsmen doing the rest.

Apart from Hertnon, who was out to a fine catch by Walsh, the Temuka batsmen did not settle down against Purcell and Smith, who both bowled throughout, except for one over when they changed ends. Purcell kept a good length, but the wicket was not in favour of pace bowling. Smith, by clever variation of flight and spin, kept the batsmen guessing, especially from the northern end, from which he appeared to receive more assistance from the wicket. He bowled seven overs for 20 runs, and took three wickets with his last four balls. Details are:— TIMARU First Innings McLauchlan, b Johnson 2

Bowling: Reynolds took three wickets for 29 runs; Johnson four for 48; Dawson, two for 18; Hertnon, one for 35; Stewart, none for 35.

Bowling: Purcell took three wickets tor 25 runs; Smith, six for 20; Wilson, none for 3. SCHOOL v. STAR GAME ON RECTORY WICKET Thanks to missed chances and to steady batting by three men, High School Is In an excellent position against (Star in the game which was played at the Rectory. High School made 195 and Star lost six wickets for 55 runs at the end qf the first day. The weather was ideal and the wicket was good, but the Star team especially made it obvious that it was the first game of the season. Batting first, School lost an early wicket, but Watt played himself in and found Roberts a good partner. Neither took risks, but both were lucky with missed chances. Nevertheless, in making 57 Watt gave a fine opening display, in which he was careful without being tedious. McLeod was prepared to risk his fate often and with the odds in his favour-was successful with his daring methods. The later men provided good support, Hunter scoring 18 singles and Hay making a stand as second to last batsman. The Star bowlers were to be pitied for the lack of support they received from tine fielding, which was really bad. Almost a dozen chances went

astray, and in addition the ground fielding was erratic. Bowling steadily at medium pace, Welford took seven wickets for 48 runs off 18 overs. McWhirter was most unfortunate, as most of the catches off his slow leg spinners were dropped, but he showed form which indicates that he will 'develop into a useful bowler. Although his length was erratic at first, he steadied down later. Hitting loose balls hard, Taylor made a promising start for Star, while Button played solidly, although he should have been run out at one stage. The other men to a large extent got themselves out through poor batting against bowling that was never more than steady. As the wicket was playing well their failure is inexplicable. Taking three for 11 runs off five overs, Enting was the most successful School

Bowling: Welford took seven wickets for 48 runs; McWhirter, one for 74; Hahn, none for 29; Kellar, one for 28. STAR

Total for six wickets .... 55 Bowling: McKenzie took one wicket for 18; Weir, one for 14; Enting, three for 11; Hay, one for 10. OLD BOYS’ POOR START GERALDINE BOWLERS ON FORM Deadly and accurate bowling by F. Stack, for Geraldine, shattered the visitors’ wickets, and Old Boys were all out for 31 runs in their first innings at Geraldine on Saturday. Earwaker opened the batting for Old Boys and Stack’s third ball of his first over dismissed him l.b.w. J. Stack secured Mahan’s dismissal shortly after for one

run, when he was caught by F. Stack. The first ball in F. Stack’s second over dismissed Riley 1.b.w., and from then on wickets collapsed at a rapid pace. The bowling honours went to Stack brothers, F. Stack securing six for six and J. Stack two for two. Old Boys hit out in the second innings, Mason going in second wicket down and giving a fine display. Before the call of time he drove a beautiful six on to the track. Partnered by Souter, they ran the score to 57 for two wickets at the call of time. Geraldine compiled 93 runs in their first innings, batting honours going to Gibson (30) and G. Fitzgerald (20). Earwaker troubled the batsmen and took five wickets for 25 runs. Detailed scores:—

Bowling—F. Stack took six wickets for six runs; E. Scott, one for two; J. Stack, two for two; Mayston, one for five; Fitzgerald, none for six.

Bowling—Earwaker took five wickets for 25 runs; Kane, one for 24; Macdonald, one for 18; Thompson, two for four; Jones, none for 20. DUNEDIN COMPETITIONS STEADY RAIN STOPS GAMES By Telegraph —Pres? Association DUNEDIN, October 30. Steady rain caused the abandonment of the first series of Dunedin grade championship cricket after barely an

hour’s play on the second day. Albion was the only team to score a win, replying to Carisbrook B’s 154 with 160 for seven wickets (Goding not out 78. Bell took three wickets for 17 runs). Old Boys 230 drew with Carisbrook 114 for eight wickets (Groves five for 26). Orange 367 drew with Kaikorai 29 for one wicket. Dunedin 166 drew with University 117 for eight wickets. SPIN BOWLERS DO WELL MATCHES IN CHRISTCHURCH By Telegraph—Presp Assoclauop CHRISTCHURCH. October 28. The second round of the Canterbury Cricket Association’s competitions was completed to-day In fine weather. The wickets were slightly affected by the rain during the week and favoured the spin bowlers. Lancaster Park won outright by dismissing West Christchurch twice in the afternoon, the last man beh 3 dismissed with the last ball of the day. Scores:— Lancaster Park 212 (F. Kerr 27, Dryden 24, Shand 24. Donnelly took six wickets for 54 runs) beat West Christchurch 50 (Read flv.e for 12 and Bellamy five for 36), and 125 (Harper 22. Bellamy took four for 53. Read three for 17) by an innings and 37 runs. East Christchurch 198 (Roberts eight for 58) and 137 for four wickets (Kinvig 90), beat Riccarton 137 (Roberts 56; Davis six for 31) by 61 runs on the first innings. Old Boys 233 for eight wickets (Page 80, Hadlee 29; Mulcock five for 73) beat St. Albans 225 (Webb 44 not out; Cook five for 30 and Escott four for 58) by two wickets. Sydenham 206 (Oliver 75, Butterfield 49; Lester four for 44) beat Old Collegians 127 (Hamilton 38; Newton five for 55) by 79 runs on the first innings.

Walsh, c Reynolds, b Johnson .. 16 Mills, c Stewart, b Dawson .. .. 11 Smith, c Reynolds, b Hertnon .. 17 Pateman, c Rutledge, b Johnson .. 20 Wilson b Reynolds 60 Rollinson, c Cook, b Johnson .. 0 Purcell, c Dawson, b Reynolds .. 6 Heasley b Dawson 5 Ewart, b Reynolds 2 Gould, not out 3 Extras Total 151

TEMUKA First Innings Dawson, lbw, b Smith Hertnon, c Walsh, b Purcell .. v 15 Lang, run out .. 6 Reynolds, b Smith .. .... .. .. 4 Johnson, lbw, b Smith .. 4 Worthington, b Purcell 0 Rutledge, c Wilson, b Smith .. .. 8 Stewart, b Purcell 4 Stringer, b Smith 0 Cook, not out . 4 Brough, b Smith .. 1 Extras 2 Total .. 50

HIGH SCHOOL First Innings Watt, std. Boyd, b McWhirter . . 57 W. McLeod, b Welford 1 Weir, c McWhirter, b Welford . . 5 Roberts, b Kellar . 31 Exiting, c Boyd, b Welford .. . . 3 Keay, b Welford . 6 McLeod, b Welford . 48 Hunter, run out . 18 McKenzie, b Welford . 0 Hay, not out . 11 Marr, lbw, b Welford . o Extras . 15 Total . 195

First Innings Button, not out .. 28 Taylor, b Weir .. 14 Kellar, std. Watt, b Enting .. .. 4 White, b McKenzie 0 Rollinson, b Hay .. 1 Hahn, c Keay, b Enting .. 3 Telford, c Roberts, b Enting .. .. 0 Tutty, not out .. 3 9 —

OLD BOYS First Innings Rarwaker lbw b F. Stack . 0 Mahan, c F. Stack, b J. Stack .. . . 1 Riley, l.b.w., b F. Stack . 1 Macdonald, b E. Scott . 3 Souter, c. Fitzgerald, b F. Stack . . 1 Kane, c Fitzgerald, b F. Stack .. . . 1 Fear, l.b.w., b Mayston Sunlev run out . 0 Mason b F Stack . 7 Thompson, not out . 5 Jones, c Fitzgerald, b Stack .. . . 0 F wt . 10 Total 31

OLD BOYS Second Innings Earwaker, l.b.w., b F. Stack 4 Mahan, c Mayston, b E. Scott ., . 9 Mason, not out 25 Souter, not out 19 Total for two wickets 57 GERALDINE F. Stack, run out 9 C. Fitzgerald, b Earwaker 6 Gibson, b Macdonald 30 Mayston, b Earwaker 6 Scott, l.b.w., b Earwaker 3 Widdup, l.b.w., b Earwaker 1 G. Fitzgerald, c Riley, b Earwaker. 20 E. Pierce, b Thompson 6 J. Stack, c Sunley, b Kane 1 A. Ford, b Thompson 2 D. Foster, not out 3 Extras 6 Total 93