CRICKET SEASON

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 89, Issue 270, 15 November 1945, Page 3

CRICKET SEASON

COMMENT ON WANGANUI SENIOR MATCHES A. S. PATTERSON’S FINE INNINGS Collegiate School put up a good parformance in withstanding the steady attack of the Technical College Old Boys’ side when play was resumed in senior malches under the control of the Wanganui Cricket Association last Saturday. Their captain, A. S. Paterson, batted brilliantly in making an excellent although not chanceless innings of 94. His off shots were particularly powerful and lie found gaps in the field. His running between the wickets was a delight and one would be safe in saying that he did not miss a single run while in with McLean. Paterson gave an easy chance to the wicketkeeper in the third over and a difficult one in the slips, but otherwise his innings was very sound. McPhail had him worried in the laber part of the innings and bowled him with an excellent ball that took the off stump. McLean batted soundly in compiling 28, and with Paterson put up 86 for the opening partnership, Thomas bowled him with a bail which kept low and which he tried to hook. R. J. Salmond looked like making runs until he sacrificed his wicket for Paterson.

Salmond ran for a run to save Paterson’s wicket and probably saved the day for the College. Tha rest of the College team offered no opposition to the Old Boys’ bowlers and were dismissed with the addition of 25 runs to the score. Tech. Old Boys with 47 to get in 16 minutes tried to force the play and finished up with one for 24. The Old Boys’ fielding was poor and they have only themselves to blame for not getting an outright win. McPhail and Thomas bowled well in getting four wickets each but both were unlucky. J. Mete Kingi and S. Nimmo each took two catches and both fielded well. Tech Old Boys made the mistake in not declaring their innings closed at the finish of play on the first day. CHANGE OF GROUNDS As was expected, because of the change of grounds, United were not expected to put up much of a showing in their reply to the Wanganui score. No batsmen can be expected to make runs on a green wicket and United must be congratulated on their showing in the second innings. Gee batted soundly in being no. out In both innings, although the following day he probably thought it was not worth it as he was hit on the body several times. Felts compiled a very sound 86 not out and did not look like going out. The other batsmen failed to impress but as mentioned above one could not judge their display owing to the conditions that existed. Cave finished up with the remarkable figures of 8 for 31 and proved that he will be a match winner for his club. There is no doubt that he will get a lot of wickets this season ana also the writer tjnnks he should be considered for the Wellington Plunket Shield side. The Wanganui fielding was keen in the first innings, but tired as the day progressed. They badly need another bowler or two to keep an end going while Cave is having a spell. Glover gave a sound display behind the wickets lor Wanganui. The Tech. School versus Marist game was an exciting one. Fortunes fluctuated during the day and right up to full time it was difficult to say as to which team would win. Vosailagi and Davies gave the Marist team a fright when they carried the School score from 4 for 40 to 4 for 120 before they separated, but then a rot set in and six student wickets fell for 15 runs. In their second innings Marist failed dismally and were all out for 56, leaving the School 70 to get in 10 minutes. At stumps the School had one down for 49. Jones, a fast medium bowler, played havoc with the Marist team and captured mo:t of the wickets for a small number of runs. INTER-SCHOOL MATCH

The annual inter-school match between the first elevens of Wanganui Technical College and Wanganui Collegiate School wil] be played on the Collegiate ground to-morrow and Saturday. This year the game promises to be much closer than last season, as Technical College has a much better al] round side. Technical College lack a player of the calibre of the Collegiate captain, A. S. Paterson. UMPIRES’ ASSOCIATION The Umpires’ Association will commence their du.ies on Saturday when they intend supplying the needs of all the senior games and the majority of the second grade games. As Cook's Gardens is not available for cricket on Saturday, one senior game will be played on the Technical College ground and two on the College grounds and the following Saturday two of the games will be completed on Cook’s Gardens, so one does not expect to see any high scoring on the first day's play. CHRISTCHURCH OPENING Participating in the opening Christchurch matches of the season were some well - known representative players. This year J. L. Kerr, a former Wanganui representative player, and one of New Zealand's best batsmen in his prime, is oaptain of West Christchurch, and I. B. Cromb is lea.ding Lancaster Park. Three Canterbury bowlers who showed up in the opening series of matches were D. N. Mcßae and T. Burtt, both lefthanders, and W. O. Mappiebeck, a fast righ.-hander who played for Canterbury in the pre-war period.