South Yorkshire Times August 5, 1950
Thorncliffe Shock Denaby
Denaby 186 for 7, Thorncliffe 187 for 2
THE crowd were silent at Denaby during the last few ovens of their match with Thorncliffe. They were watching Denaby’s tired fielders chasing after boundary shots by two Thorncliffe batsmen who put on 130.
They were watching Denaby fighting to keep up their unbeaten record this season. They saw Thorncliffe win by eight wickets.
The Reasons.
Timid batting, shocking fielding, missed catches were all to blame for this drubbing. Especially against a team that had won only once previously this year.
Denaby were lucky to scrape up the 186. Were it not for Jack Munden they might not have made 86. Their batting at first was disappointing, against some average swing bowling, on an easy wicket. Ellis went at 26, with 16. Richards and Oakley followed Ellis quickly, for far less dignified totals, and the Wilkes Brian and Joe, stayed long enough to add 18 and 17 respectively.
Peter Downing hit a four off the first ball he received. He followed up, to the crowd’s delight, with a six to the pavilion, attempted another four, and was caught on the boundary for 10.
Munden fought back sturdily, however, Mick Williams slashed his way through 32 runs, scoring a six and three fours in one over. When Williams went, leaving Newton and Munden to bat out time , there was little Denaby excitement left.
Munden Was Good.
Munden’s unbeaten ’79 was good. The first half of it was made quietly and steadily, with little fuss. He was willing to let runs come. When he opened out, however, there was a complete change of style. How he picked out some of the balls he sent towards the boundary must remain a source of wonder to the crowd but must be a tribute to his keen eye and quick moving.
With Thorncliffe in, and two of their batsmen back in the pavilion for 57, the prospect of another win for Denaby seemed brighter. Then missed catches gave the newcomers each a life. Newbold was missed early on, and went on to make 58 not out. Jimmy Wood, who had taken three Denaby wickets for 57, was dropped when nine, and scored 84 not out.
Their innings were curious. Neither was conspicuous, but both batted as if they had all day before them. At first no one expected them to stay. When the hundred went up, however, the crowd realised that they were still there. With 150 on the board the game was as good as over, and the end was watched in silence.