Batting Disasters

Waikato Times, Volume 124, Issue 20717, 30 January 1939, Page 10

Batting Disasters

CRICKET CHALLENGE

BAY’S SUDDEN DISMISSAL

WAIKATO MAKE BTRONG BTAND BRIGHT RETRIEVES POSITION Winning the toss and electing to bat on a wicket which had been deprived of its fire by the recent rain, the Hawke’s Bay challengers for the Hawke Cup had everything in their favour when they commenced their match with the holders of the trophy, Waikato, at Seddon Park on Saturday. After losing one wicket for nine runs the visitors provided an excellent first wicket stand which earned them 69 runs. The Bay had three w’ickets down for 101 and six for 144, but when it appeared they wmuld pass 200 the rot set in and the last four wickets fell at 157. Even as great a disaster was attached to the initial outing of Waikato. The opening partnership was broken when only 11 runs were up. The second wicket fell at 27 and two more at 32. It w'as left to Bright and Aitken to stage a recovery, which they did, bringing the tally along to 110 before Bright was dismissed. His was a great effort, to which Aitken lent valuable support. With Waikato 112 for five the match has reached an interesting stage. A feature of the encounter was the fine wicketkeeping of R. Skeet, who, by allowing no byes in the Hawke’s Bay innings, justified his inclusion in the Auckland Plunket Shield eleven.

T. Reaney played havoc with the slow attack after the luncheon adjournment, but he could not cope w'ith Everest’s fast trundling. However, he managed to get Going away for four, but another delivery from the bowler saw' him well caught at point by Aitken. 144—6—28. Beck, square-cutting Everest to the fence, took the total to 150 in 198 minutes. After that the scoring was subdued, Going bowling four maidens on end, while Everest also kept the batsmen quiet. The drying wicket appeared to be responding better to the efforts of the bowlers, only five runs being taken off five overs at that stage. Going’s eleventh over saw Beck dismissed with a ball which came off sharply. 157—7—13. Going’s Success Further success attended Going when in the same over he claimed Dean’s wicket. The batsman attempted to turn a rising ball to leg and sent it Into Badeley’s safe hands. 157—9 —O. No further runs had been added when Robinson, by sending a ball straight to Clough at point, gave Everest his second wicket, and with the following ball the bowder shattered Northe’s stumps and Hawke’s Bay's innings closed for 157, scored in 227 minutes. Precisely the same tactics they adopted against Marlborough were employed by the Lyon brothers when they opened Waikato's innings after the tea interval. M. Lyon was subdued and refused to attack the bowling, while T. Lyon assumed the initiative from the beginning by hooking 11. Reaney to the leg boundary for a glorious four.

Double figures had just been reached when H. Reaney dismissed T. Lyon, the batsman snicking a ball in the slips, where Thomas clived and accepted a brilliant catch. 11—1—8. Lissette, wdio joined M. Lyon, fell into a. leg trap set by t. Reaney. The fast bowder had been concentrating an the leg stump and his method proved effective when H. Reaney, standing close in on the leg, took an easy catch practically off the end of Lissette’s bat. 27—2—3.

Bright lost M. Lyon when the scoreboard read 32. The batsman, who had also shown good form, hitting the loose balls with power, played a ball on to his wicket. 32—3—21.

Badeley set out with the idea of retrieving the position, but his methods were somewhat drastic and resulted in his surviving only two balls. He played the first two dapgerously. and skied the third into the middle of the wicket, where Conole took a welljudged catch. 32—4—0. Chances of Waikato overtaking their opponents on the first innings were not very great wdien Aitken joined Bright. Bright picked the ones to hit. A four

off Evans and another straight down the wicket, off T. Reaney, saw Bright take the side to 50 after 80 minutes. Bright made most of loose bowling, using his feet to advantage and placing his shots with exactness. He scored a good deal faster than Aitken, who captured singles here and there off wellplaced hits. He was playing the right game and proved his consistency this season. Bright Just Home The pair brought 50 up when Bright captured a brace. Running the second. Bright had some difficulty in reaching his crease, and to save his wicket had to throw himself full length over the line. A four past fine leg to Aitken saw' Waikato make the century in exactly two hours. Bright at that stage was batting well for 40. _while Aitken, securing all the available runs without risks, was 25. Bright took his own score to 4 6 and then, in trying to turn Beuth to leg, he was caught close in by Evans. 110—5—46. ‘Tim failing light at this stage was proving troublesome with the batsmen. Bright had made four appeals against it. but none was upheld. Aitken and Morgan refused to take risks and ten minutes before time it was decided to