Mexborough & Swinton Times, May 12
Yorkshire Council
Denaby 232 for 7 v Pontefract 165 for 9
Another Good Batting Display
Fair weather, but cold, prevailed at Denaby, yesterday when the home club entertained Pontefract, who came without Blackham, H. A. Burton and Pickup, while Denaby were without Crossley and the brothers Robinson.
Denaby took first knock, Greenwood and Foster opening against the bowling of Spink and Turton. Runs came slowly, and, with 9 on, Foster, whose thumb had been injured earlier in the day, received a nasty smack on it from a ball from Turton. The batsman was obviously in pain, and unfortunately, he got Turton´s next delivery in the same place. Play was held up for a minute or two, but Foster pluckily continued, and clouted the next ball to the boundary, getting Spink away similarly. Greenwood meanwhile, was proceeding by singles. A smart bit of fielding on the part of Jones intercepted a shot marked for the rails, and then Greenwood survived an appeal for l.b.w. Pickles relieved Turton at the football end and Shackleton went on in place of Spink. At 54, Foster was run out with his score at 22, and joined by George Worthington, who at once pulled Pickles to leg for 4. Greenwood followed foster to the pavilion without adding to his share in the first wicket partnership. That share was 31.
Tibbles joined Worthington, but, after one good shot for 4, Ted was deceived by a ball from Pickles, which came in from the off. And Narraway next added a useful contribution of 20, which included three drives to the boundary, one of which landed in the score box.
Sykes and Jones were the bowlers now, and it was the latter who secured the wicket of the Denaby stumper, the ball coming in a bit from the leg.
Denaby had now 115 runs on the board for the loss of four wickets. The fifth wicket fell with Soar dismissed for 4, at 137. But Worthington was still at it and he was given a hearty cheer when he reached his 50, thus repeating his performance against Collegiate. He went on to make 61, having his six boundaries. Another half century came from Harry Shoosmith. He went for the bowling and had several lives, being missed twice by Percy Burton, the Rugby footballer, for whom a cricket ball was apparently too small a thing to hold, with hands trained to the habit of dealing with something larger. Or was it the difference in the shape of the ball that proved disconcerting?
Harry continued to hit lustily – it was the right policy to pursue, for time was becoming the prime consideration – and at last he went out to a catch in the long field for 55, having hit nine 4´s and a 6.
Denaby then declared with their total at 232 for 7 wickets, and Dick Coope 22 not out. They had sent it up in two hours and a half. Jones had been the only successful bowler. He secured two wickets for 17 runs.
When the visitors opened their reply, Denaby were left with two hours and a quarter to dismiss them. The attack was entrusted to Shoosmith and Bateson, and Narraway was applauded for smart work which sent Shackleton back for 11, with 17 up. Pickles joined Wordsworth, and the reply was carried to 43 before the new comer went out to a really wonderful catch by Foster at backward point. He dived at a lightning shot and held it though he fell.
Spink was only dismissed by Worthington when, having scored 47, he was over-eagerly attempting another big hit for his fifty
Pontefract´s reply had now risen to 138, and, with little time remaining, they had still five wickets in hand.
But a great change came over the game now, and it ended in an exciting race against time. The next four wickets fell cheaply and rapidly, and Denaby were decidedly unlucky in failing to snatch a well-deserved victory, with a preponderance of runs in their favour, before time came down. The game was drawn, with Pontefract´s reply standing at 165 for nine wickets.
Worthington, whose bowling in the end, along with Greenwood, brought about the visitors collapse secured four wickets for 33. Greenwood took 2 for 33, and Shoosmith 2 for 22. Scores:-
Denaby Pontefract
I.Greenwood b Shackleton 31 H Wordsworth c Foster b Wathey 34
H Foster run out 22 S Shackleton st Barrat b Shoosmith 11
G Worthington c and b Spink 61 J Pickles c Foster b Shoosmith 13
E Tibbles b Pickles 4 H Spink c Narraway b Worthington 47
W Narraway b Jones 20 Capt Watkin c Bateson b Worthington 17
R M Soar B Jones 4 Pte. Ramsden c Wathey b Greenwood 3
H Shoosmith c Pickles b Spink 55 P Barton b Worthington 0
R Coope not out 22 F Sykes b Greenwood 1
O Bentley not out 2 Cpl Jones not out 1
Extras 13 Extras 11
Total (for 7 wickets, dec.) 232 Total (for 9 wickets) 165