CRICKET COMMENT

Wanganui Chronicle, 9 November 1949, Page 8

CRICKET COMMENT

Opening Matches Of Season Quite interesting cricket was played in the opening matches of the Taihape Cricket Association last Saturday. Mangaweka sent Taihape in to bat and the slow wicket soon had the batsmen in difficulties. The board read 2 for 2 when the captain, Ashenden, went to the wicket and this soon changed to 18 for 4. With Campbell's dismissal for 14 the score showed 68 for 7. The new bat sman, Collect on, soon demonstrated that he was prepared to keep them out all day if necessary, whereupon Ashenden, who at this stage, after an hour s batting, had scored 25, attacked the bowling, despatching it to all parts of the field. In another hour he had taken his score to the thre e figures and his final score of 120 included four sixes and 15 fours. The innings was declared closed at the tea adjournment at 180 for 7, Ashenden, 120 not out, Collerton 17, not out, the partnership having been worth 112 runs. Mangaweka opened badly with two wickets down for six runs. Hoskin and Boyd then made a stand to take the score to 30. However, both were dismissed without addition to I.h e score and the next four wickets fell for only 15 runs. Due and North over bob ran to double figures and enabled 30 runs to be added for the last two wickets, the innings closing at 75. The spin attack on a slow wicket had the Mangaweka in difficulties, a fact which is demonstrated by the fact that most of lhe wickets fell through the ball beating the bat. Ashenden took 5 for 42 ami Quigley 4 for 21. Mangaweka followed on and when stumps were drawn had lost 2 wickets for 32, Burgess being 20 not out. COUNTRY v. NAVY. Country had first use of the wicket and a second wicket partnership worth 74 runs between J. Marshall and D. McCarthy set a foundation for a useful score. Both batted attractively, McCarthy’s innings ending at 30, when he lifted one for his brother, fielding as substitute, to fake a catch. Marshall was only two short of his half century when he returned one to the bowler'. Two more wickets fell without addition to the score, but then Schroeder commenced to open out. While wickets fell at the other end he han his score to 34, but his dismissal at 145, saw th e end of the innings. T. Harvey secured the bowling honours with 5 wickets for 48. Navy lost two wickets early, but a stand between the captain, W. Bailey, and H. Crichton, look the score to the half century. Prentice reached double figures and in the meantime Bailey had reached his half century. The dismissal of these two at 93 was virtually lhe end of the innings, as the last four wickets fell for only 10 runs. 13. McConachie, 5 for 17 and D. McCarthy 3 for 8, carried off the bowling hon- < »u rs Country batted again, but made only an indifferent showing, Crichton, bowling with particularly good effect and securing 3 wickets for 8 runs. When slumps were drawn six wickets had been lost for 44 runs, Bardell being the only batsman to reach double