South Yorkshire Times, July 7, 1951
Denaby Still know How to Attract the Crowds
Denaby 109 for 1 Hallam 108
With most Yorkshire Council secretaries complaining of falling “gates” Denaby still manage to draw big crowds to their home matches. Why? Because of the brand of cricket they serve up. They are one of the most attractive teams in the Council with all round excellence in batting, bowling and fielding. And on Saturday they gave one of their most entertaining performances of the season in avenging an earlier defeat by Hallam.
Denaby had Hallam in trouble almost as soon as the Sheffield club opened the game, and it was surprising that they reached 108. Denaby knocked off the runs for the loss of one wicket in just over an hour. A staunch, defensive innings by Hallam opener Brian, who carried his bat for 59 held the Sheffield side together against Richards’ slow left arm spinners, and the faster stuff of Denaby’s Cowan and Forest. Pickering never looked like being out, but he could find no one to stay with him for long. Richards in 20 overs (6 of them maidens) took 5 for 46 – good bowling, although he possibly kept himself on a little too long. Cowan after having Thorpe lbw for 13 was replaced by Forest, who took three for 21.
Denaby’s fielding, incidentally, lacked crispness in parts although Taylor and Downing were in great form at slip.
When Ellis and Munden opened for Denaby, the crowd saw more real batting. They put on 75 for the first wicket, and looked capable of winning the game themselves, although Ellis had two “lives” in his 54 not out. The partnership was broken after 50 minutes, Ellis having made 44 and Munden 29. Joe Wilks came in, and 85 runs were on the board after the first hour. The game lasted fewer than 10 minutes longer with Wilks hammering 32 (four fours) ……than two runs a minute.
Ellis’ innings was beautiful to watch. Although he should have been caught on the boundary in his thirties, his battling was for the most part faultless.