Mexborough & Swinton Times – Saturday 27 August 1904
Denaby 121 for 4 White Lane 117
A Six Wickets Victory.
Saturday opened none too promising for cricket, but, fortunately, rain did not fall, and all the matches in the Mexboro’ and District League were brought to a conclusion without any interference from the elements. Denaby were again at home this week to White Lane, and, although it was to be expected that the homesters would claim the honours of the day, it was not generally anticipated that the visitors would make such a stubborn fight. There was only a very poor attendance, and the visitors batted first on a holding wicket.
They opened badly, losing three good wickets for about 20 runs. Then came the surprise of the innings. N. Parker and F. Mellor were together, and all the cream of the home bowling they defied. Runs came very freely, 30, 40, and 50 being put up in quick succession. The scoring now slowed a bit, the bowling seemingly being a little difficult. The fielding of the homesters was not up to the usual standard, and, as a matter of fact, all White Lane ought to have been out for considerably less than the total they did make.
The Denaby youngster, Butler, had a turn at the bowling, and soon proved his worth, neither of the batsmen being able to do anything with him. He was continually sending up good stuff, although the score had reached 80 odd before the fourth wicket fell. Then we had some fun. Butler clean bowled Parker, after that worthy had made 53 in vigorous style, whilst Mellor, in running out to one of Butler’s teasers, was smartly stumped by Knowles. He had made 18, and with Parker, had contrived to pull the visitors out of what appeared at one time to be a hopeless position. Then no less than five wickets fell for about as many runs, but this highly peculiar and interesting innings of the visitors did not end there, for after this collapse, recovery, and another collapse, we saw another remarkable recovery, the last wicket, Hadfield and Bertram, taking the score to 117 before the former was dismissed by a splendid catch by young Smith in the long field. Hadfield had batted with unusual freedom, and his 27 included several fours and threes and one six. Butler’s fine analysis was spoiled by the latest partnership, for he was knocked about pretty freely by Hadfield, although ultimately he fell into the trap placed by the slow bowler – 117 is by no means a score to be disregarded against a team like Denaby, although on Saturday they were minus one of their best players, Luther Robinson, although it might be said that White Lane were also similarly handicapped.
Denaby commenced batting about a quarter past five, with just nice time to knock off the runs. The opening was a startling one, for J. Stott, who had opened the effort with Percy Bury, was clean bowled by B. Platts before a run was put on. With young Billy Scott and P. Bury in runs came freely, and both playing good cricket, the 40 was put up before the partnership was dissolved, Smith being caught in the slips by A. Chambers, when he had made 23. Knowles helped Bury to put on a few more runs, but he was never at home with Mellor, who clean bowled him when he had made 7. Bury was batting splendidly, although he gave one or two chances. He scored at a very fast rate, putting Parker over the rails, and scoring three fours in succession. When he had made 39 he was clean bowled by B. Platts. Scott and Arthur Robinson sufficed to knock off the runs, Scott being in a particularly lively mood, scoring 31 not out, obtained in a very taking way. Arthur Robinson was not out 15. The final score was 121 for four wickets, Denaby thus winning handsomely by six wickets. Score:—