Game Was Drawn But Honours Remained With Country

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 36, 12 February 1937, Page 8

Game Was Drawn But Honours Remained With Country

Wellington’s Total of 296 Topped by 30 Runs

BEANEY-NORRIS PARTNERSHIP FEATURE OF SECOND DAY

The match between the Wellington Plunket Shield team and the eleven from the country districts, which concluded at the Sportsground yesterday, resulted in a draw, but the honours of the game remained with the country players who established a 30-run first-inn-ings lead. The feature of the second day 8 play was the batting of T. Reaney, of Hawke’s Bay, and W. E. Norris, of Manawatu, who added 133 for the fifth wicket just when it looked as if the Wellington bowlers would dismiss the side for a comparatively small score. When Norris joined Reaney the total was 110 for four wickets, but when Reaney, who had played a splendid innings for 93, was unlucky enougn to run himself out, Country, with Jive wickets still in hand required only 54 runs to head Wellington’s total. The Innings eventually closed for 326 and it was not until Wellington’s total had been passed that Norris, who had made 68, lost his wicket when going for a big hit. The Plunket Shield team batted a second time and when stumps were drawn they had 151 runs on for four wickets, Gallichan being undefeated with 62 to his credit. Fine Weather and Easy Wicket. The weather was fine for the second day, the light being better than on the first day and the wicket easy. There was au attendance of about SUU and the spectators were treated to another day's exciting cricket iu which the fortunes of the game fluctuated first one way and then the other. Robertson and Murchison had given the side a good start but the Wellington bowlers then secured four quick wickets. The lefthanders, Keaney and Norris, then became associated in the partnership which slowly and surely swung the game back towards trie Country team. Reaney was most unlucky not to get his century but 93 was a splendid effort against the brilliant fielding of the Plunket {Shield team. The Hawko's Hay man's run out was a very close thing and many of the spectators in the stand thought the decision should have been iu his favour. Norris played a true captain’s innings, prooabiy the best of his career. He was cautious when the occasion warranted it but going for runs whenever the opportunity offered. The partnership was one oi perfect understanding with each oatsmau ever reauy to sneak the single to get his partner away from bowling which appeared to be worrying him. The Morning’s Play.

Ashenden was the opening bowler and Cutler, whyse overnight score was seven, got the first one away for a single. Tom Keaney felt for oue and then nad a look and the filth bail of the over he glanced down tfte gully for a single.

Parsloe took up the attack down wind aud Keaney pushed the first bail down the gully lor another single. Cutier hit another single past mid-on and off the first ball of the next over from Ashenden a single gave him double

Three balls later Keaney viciously hooked Ashendeu to the boundary and next ball ho hooked for a brace.

The fielding was very keen and Keaney ran to ten witli a single off Asliendeu on the leg side. Ashenden was bowling a better length than Parsloe and he was varying his pace well. Lamason took over from Parsloe, bowling to a fairly strong leg field. Cutler sent 90 up with a glorious shot to square leg off a short-pitched ball from Ashenden and he reached 20 with a leg glide for two off Lamason. Reaney had driven Lamason past midon for a couplo but when the soore was 99, Ashenden put one down just outside the leg stump and Cutler, attempting a glide, snicked the ball into Tindill's hands, Tindill taking a good catch. Cutler had made 20 and the score was 99 for three wickets.

Massey, of Wairarapa, joined Reaney, who brought 100 up in 94 minutes with a single off Lamason. Massey opened his account with a brace to fine leg. Reaney was scoring well when the opportunity offered but Ashenden beat him once with one which went through low. iu the next over from Lamason Keaney sent 110 up but Lamason then bowled Massey, who moved over in front of his wickets. The telegraph read 110—4—4 and Lamason had taken two wickets for 25.

Norris opened with a shot worth two through the slips and Keaney reached 20 with a drive past mid-on. The 120 went up with an uppish shot by Keaney past cover point and Norris whacked the next but one to the square leg boundary.

A straight drive for four by Reaney sent J3O up and Keaney had reached 30. Keaney hooked another for two in the same over and iu the next Norris glided Lamason for three to reach 10.

Ashenden, whose tally was one for 46, was relieved by Gallichan who bowled the first maiden of the innings. Reaney drove the first ball of Lamason's next over past mid-off for three, and it was a very fine shot. Lamason appealed for leg before against Norris off the last ball of the over but it was not upheld.

Lamason broke one back to Reaney but the Hawke’s Bay man banged the next ball over mid on for a glorious four. His total was 40. Ho then hit a single and Norris carried on the good work with a slashing four to square leg, sending 150 up in 127 minutes. Norris was playing Gallichan confidently and quietly but Keaney waa

going down the wicket to him and the Napier man was hitting very hard. Reaney reached 50 in 74 minutes with a two off Gallichan and 160 went up. The partnership, just when one was needed, had beeu worth 50. In the next over Reaney hit Lama son to leg for six and two balls later he hooked one to the same place fot four. Keaney had reached 60 and the telegraph read 170 for four wickets.

Lamason's two wickets had now cost 61 runs.

Norris was playing a real captain’s innings and he drove Gallichan to the sight-screen to reach zU. Parsloe took over from Lamason, who had bowled 17 overs.

The first ball of Gallichan’s next over was hit hard for a single by Keaney and 180 went up. Parsloe kept Keaney quiet in the next over but in the following one Norris pushed Gallichan past point for a couple. The batsmen were fairly subdued at this stage and Ashenden returned to the Esplanade end in place of Gallichan, who had had 29 runs hit off him.

Norris and Keaney each got Ashenden away for a single and 190 was signalled. Parsloe appeared to be getting more pace and Keaney was not to be drawn with off stuff. Parsloe then changed to round the wicket.

Keaney reached 70 with a slashing cover drive off Ashenden and a single off the next ball sent the total to 196, Country then being 100 runs behind.

A brace to Norris in the same over and a chop through the slips off Parsloe by Keaney, sent the 200 up. The innings had been in progress 167 minutes aud Keaney wua 76 and Norris 28. The pair had added 90 runs for the fifth wicket.

Keaney cut Ashenden past point and two for overthrows gave him three for the stroke. Norris reached 30 in the same over with one that pulled up a yard short ol the leg boundary. Keaney pushed Parsloe past mid-on, fielding close in, and reached 80. Griffiths took over from Ashenden and Keaney pulled the first ball off his middle stump for a single to send 210 up and to make the partnership worth 100 runs in the fast time of 72 minutes. When the luncheon adjournment was taken the total was 213, Keaney being 84 and Norris 31. It hud been a greai morning and very bright batting. The Afternoon's Play. Parsloe opened the attack after lunch and live runs came from the first over, each man getting two, one being a leg bye. Keaney sent 220 up with a single to mid-on off Ashenden and Norris prettily turned the next to leg for a couple. Gater in the over they successfully ran a very risky single. Four leg byes sent .the total to 227 and Norris sent it rocketing with a brilliant six to fine leg. Norris hau reached 40 and he scooped the six right out of his whiskers. Keaney reached 89 to equal Tindill’s score with a cover drive for a single off Ashenden. Norris gave the spectators a thrijJ with one he up just out of reach on the leg side. In tne next over Pars•ioe got a “yorker” through past Norris, who, however, deflected the next oue for four byes off his pads. Keaney reached 90 and sent 240 up with a quickly run single. The batsmen were definitely hostile and they were going for everything. The fielding of the Wellington men w as brilliant, however, and nothing was being given away. Keaney played an uppish one off Ashenden when he was 91, but wuen he saw the ball bang he took the way off the bat and the ball dropped snort. End of Great Innings. Two balls later Keaney hit one to mid-on and started to run. The ball was brilliantly returned to the keeper by du Chateau and Tindill broke the wickets before Keaney could regain his crease. Keaney, who hit one six and five fours, had scored 93 in 135 minutes. The telegraph read 243—5—93. The partnership, an invaluable one, had been worth 133 runs in 95 minutes. Hayward was next, but Parsloe got him leg before he had scored. 244—6—0. Pritchard took his placo and 53 runs were still needed to head the Plunket {Shield team's score. The position was not nearly as good for Country as it had been five minutes earlier. Parsloe had taken oue wicket for 56 Norris was going along serenely and he survived a confident appeal from Parsloe who was bowling more impressively at this stage. Pritchard opened his account by driving Ashenden past mid-on for four. He turned the next ball down the gully for two, sending 250 up in 241 minutes. He glanced the next oue a bit finer for a well-run three, and fn Parsloe’a next over he turned one to leg for two to reach double figures. On two more occasions in the same over Pritchard repeated the shot and 260 wont up. t Norris w.as 45 and Pritchard 15. Pritchard took three off Parsloe's next over and he hit Griffiths, who had relieved Ashenden, to fine leg for .two, reaching 20. in the following over Norris glanced Parsloe down the gully for a brace and then had a let off when he snicked one line to the slips, the chance not being accepted. They ran a single, three coming from the over. In the next over Norris scored a single and then Pritchard cover drove Griffiths for 4, sending 270 up*. Norris reached 50 in 327 minutes, with a very pretty single past point. That single,, however, proved fatal to Pritchard, who in the same over, was “yorked” by Parsloe. Pritchard had batted very well and aggressively and in contributing 26, he assisted to add 33 runs for the seventh wicket.—277—7 —26. The Country team still required 20 runs to head Wellington’s total. Groombridge was the next man jLn and

he opened his account with a nice puli, off Griffiths, for a single, the ball being fielded on the boundary. Two hundred and eighty had been signalled. Norris seemed rather anxious to keep the bowling and he ran a risky single to get it. Then he banged one from Parsloe past mid-on for four —a very fine shot. Norris never let up for a moment and he hooked Parsloe to fine leg for three and the total was 289. Norris still had the bowling and he realised he had to go for it. He hooked Lamason, who had relieved Griffiths, for two, and square cut the next one for two, Norris reaching 6U. Norris then ran a single and the score was 294 —2 runs short of Wellington’s total.

Norris was on the right end of the wicket when Parsloe commenced ins next over and the Country skipped waited for the fifth ball before hitting one over the bowler's head for the two to bring the scores equal. He pushed the last ball of the over towards cover for the single which put the Country team in front. Skipper’s Innings Ends. In the next over, when Norris had made 68 and the total was 299, Norris' great innings came to an end. Lamason chucked one up just outside the off stump. Norris went for a big hit, missed, and was clean bowled. 299—*8 —68. Norris batted for 144 minutes and his total included one six and three fours. It was a magnificent knock, probably the best he has ever played. Johnson joined Groombridge only to see Groombridge clean bowled by Parsloe,—299—9 —4. Christensen joined Johnson, who pushed one along on the on side, the batsmen requiring the single which sent 300 up. The innings had been in progress 282 minutes. In the next over Johnson glided Parsloe to the boundary. Facing Lamason, Christensen went for a big hit, but Parsloe jumped and failed to hold what would have been a great catch. Johnson and Christensen put up a good effort for tfte last wicket and with u mixture of aggressive hitting and steady defensive play tftey raised the total to 326 before Ashenden, bowling from the town end, clean bowled JohnChristensen carried his bat for 18. The Country team had headed Wei iington by 3U runs. Wellington’s {Second. Knock. Wellington s secuud innings was commenced alter the tea adjournment, the opening batsmen being uu Chateau ana u'Hrien. Pritchard opened with a maiden to du Cnateau ana Aiassey look up tne attack at the Esplanade end anu uo immediately had success. He pitched tnree up to O’Brien who declined the invitation to snick one Jlu line leg. O’Brien then took a quion single, wringing du Chateau to face the Dowling, luassey then pitched one up just outside the leg stump. Du Chateau went for 4 * Sydney or the bush,” miss ed and when tfte null broke back it toon ms off; stump. The telegraph reati I—l—U. Eli joined O ’Bricn and a few minutes later O’Brien nearly chopped one from Massey on to his wickets. He drovt the next ball through the covers foi three.. Eil sent 10 up with, two from a kicking bull on the leg side, but in the saintover Pritchard spread-eagled Ell's slumps with a good length wall which kept slightly low. The telegraph reau Gallichan opened his account with a crisp shot to leg and he drove the next ball through tfto covers for two more. O'Brien was there to get runs anu ho square cut Aiassey for a brace and took a single off a slow oue towards cover. He reached 10 with a smartly run single. Both batsmen were hitting witn plenty of power and they ran tue score up at a good rate. Christensen took over at the town end and Gallichtfn got him away for a single to reach douole figures.

Christenson and Aiassey kept .the batsmen subdued for a time but Gallichan, though beaten by one whiqh must have grazed the stumps, hit a fine shot to the fine leg boundary, 30 going up In the next over he cirove Christensen past mid-on for three. Gallichan reached 20 with a single from a square cut. O'Brien had not seen much of the bowling but when he did get it he cover drove Massey for four. With the total 42, Groombridge took over at the town end and Christensen went on at the other. The 50 went up in 51 minutes ana Norris put Murchison on at the Esplanade end. Gallichan smashed him to leg for four, and in the next over O’Brien drove Groombridge for another four, reaching 30. Gallichan reached 3T) in the same over. Pours were coming more frequently and Gallichan sent 70 up with a hook to the track. Norris then tried Johnson, the young left-hander from Hawke's Bay, against the wind and he pitched his delivery well up to OBrien, who snickei it into Norris’ hands. The trfegraph read 74—3—34. O’Brien had hit two fours. Later in the over Lamason having come in, Gallichan got right on to a long hop from Johnson and the ball flashed over the track. Gallichan had reached 40. Pritchard twice beat Lamason but failed with an appeal. In the next over Gallichan lifted Johnson over the leg boundary for six and two balls later Lamason repeated the stroke. {Sixteen runs came from the over. Ninety was up when Lamason survived another confident appeal from Pritchard. Gallichan reached 50 in 62 minutes and the 100 went up in 79 minutes, and Lamason, who had not been happy, glanced one through the slips to reach 10.

Lamason took time to settle down but when he did he scored quickly and with good shots all round the wicket, When the total was 124, Keaney was given a turn with the ball from the town end and five runs came from his first over.

Gallichan was in the 60’s and Lamason reached 50 with a powerful shot on the on side but in the same over Keaney got him caught and bowled. This marked the finish of the match, Gallichan carrying his bat for GS, made in 90 min-