CRICKET.

Waikato Times, Volume 119, Issue 19799, 1 February 1936, Page 19 (Supplement)

CRICKET.

HAMILTON MATCHES. RAIN STOPS PLAY. HAMILTON LUCKY. (By “Long Stop.”) For the .first time this season, rain set in on Saturday afternoon and caused the abandonment of the matches after a couple of hours' plsy. This was unfortunate, for apart from the loss of play, very Interesting positions had been reached in both games and there was every prospect of exciting finishes The wickets were in excellent condition and should have been productive of good scoring, hut the bowlers had the upper hand and dominated the games. Two of the senior B games had advanced to suoh a stage on the first day, that they were concluded early on Saturday, so that Old Boys and Hamilton collected full points lu their matches. Well Out Of It. Hamilton were doing eo poorly against East that it appears they were fortunate in not having to go on for the full time. By tea time they had lost seven wickets for seventy runs and although there was always the possibility that their tail might have added some useful runs, the odds were against their getting many more. It looked as if Hamilton F.ast would have ; had ample time to get whatever runs ! were required and turn their first inI nings loss into an outright victory. Few of the Hamilton batsmen were confident, McKenzie was in good form and was scoring freely off all the bowlers, but just now he does not seem to be able to get past the twenties or thirties. Ltssette and Sand-fq-u were comfortable erifagh but fell before they were properly going. East kept changing their bowlers, Going, Comer, Clough, Skeet and Hubbard, all having a short turn. Tha last named developed a good pace and maintained a length, getting two good wickets in Sandford and McKenzie. Just In Time. Claudelands played very defensively against Old Boys with a fairly big Bcore against them in an endeavour to save having to follow on, or if they failed in that, to play out time and save a point. In nearly two hours play, thev scored just over fifty runs, which shows how slowly they scored. Alderman was at the wickets for a good time, but was very restrained. He restricted his scoring shots almost entirely to hooking short pitched balls; he slammed some of these hard to ieg, but just failed to get on to one from Somers and sent tt straight to square leg's hands. As the black clouds rolled up. it was obvious that play would not continue for long and tt was Just a question whether Claudelands' last wicket could hang out long enough, Ewan and Buckland played the rock, but an occasional swipe from tire latter looked dangerous and eventually he was caught in the deep field a few minutes before the rain started. It may be remembered that at about the same time last year these two teams were playing when rain stopped play. On that occasion, Claudelands had a first inning's lead, but Old Boys were ! well on the way to reversing the decision when they were robbed of their victory by the rain.

Back to Form. Although he bowled a good deal last season, Altken was seldom dangerous and was not nearly as effective as he had previously been. In this innings he bowled again with all his old guile and kept all' the batsmen very subdued. He finished with the good figures of 5 for 18 and with a little luck would have had a few more wickets and several snicks might have been caught behind or in the slips. Somers developed his usual in-swing-ers, but these were not as big as he often has and were consequently more dangerous. Senior B. The teams In this grade are well scattered as regards their championship points, Hamilton being well ahead with a lead of 5 from High School and Old Boys; the others, with the exception of Dairy, are close together and the fourth team to go in the A section for the second round will hot be decided until after the next game. Frankton United were going very well In their matoh with East Old Boys and had a good chance of winning, thanks to a great innings by A. Davies of 86 not out. He was particularly unluckv In not having the chance to go and 'finish the hundred. G. Mcßae placed another useful knock for East against High School, this match also promiisng to have finished in an exciting manner. •> BODYLINE ’> CHARGE. EDDIE GILBERT “ CALLED.” SHEFFIELD SHIELD INCIDENT. Eddie Gilbert, the Queensland aboriginal fast bowler, was "called” for "bodyline”—intimidating the batsman .—by umpire George Borwick, In the Sheffield Shield match against New South Wales. This was revealed by members of the Queensland team, and later confirmed by umpire Borwick. Gilbert is the first inter-State man In Australia to be no-balled under the rule which came Into existence following on the controversy of 1932-33, when Larwood’s bowling was questioned. 'Pile call was .made during the fine bowling period Gilbert had yesterday, in which Mudge Robinson and Marks were alt struck by rising balls. Gilbert was informed by Borwick tim* lie must not bowl to intimidate batsmen, and that, if he did. he would be no-balled, and if the offence was repeated, the over would be deemed lo have ended, and he could not again bowl during the innings. Called Twice —Warned. Gilbert continued his tactics and was called again, lie was warned, but, did not again infringe. He, however. showed some reluctance In bowling the following over, during which his paed decreased. Although Gilbert was spoken to in lOouunued in previous column.!