Onlooker’s Notebook

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 661, 14 January 1933, Page 11

Onlooker’s Notebook

After bowling from the Riccarton Road end for a short spell in the St Albans v. Old Boys match, W. E. Merritt came into action from the south end, and immediately commenced to trundle in his most devastating fashion. As usual, he kept the ball well tossed up to the batsmen, and, gaining pace from the hard wicket, was on top throughout Old Boys’ first innings. He captured nine wickets for 95 runs. There was any amount of evidence of the excessive heat at Hagley this afternoon. Umpire Miln arrived with unconventional but very sensible headgear, a grey topee. The St Albans 'keeper, Pearce, wore a wide brimmed straw hat after the style of a Panama, which afforded him a very generous amount of shade. Hadlee, the Old Boys’ right-hand opening batsman, who plays in glasses, found it necessary to hold up proceedings at the wicket while he adjourned to the pavilion to obtain a handkerchief to wipe the moisture off the lenses. The numerous spectators viewed the cricketing. activities from the seats under the shady oaks, elms and ashes, whilst the flannel-clad figures sweltered out in the fierce of^ the sun. E. Pearce, the young St Albans wicket-keeper, was in great form behind the stumps this afternoon. His work was amazingly fast. He stumped three men, and caught one. He gave his opponents no chance when they ventured out of the crease. a a a A threatened Old Boys’ collapse was averted by M. L. Page, the captain of the side. He adapted himself to the needs of the situation, and played a safe knock. He was particularly severe on the slow bowler, Merritt, and collected several boundaries in good style. When one short of the half century, however, he was skittled by Graham with a good-length ball.