Mexborough and Swinton Times, September 30
Another Close Finish
South Kirkby retrieved a Bad Start at Denaby.
Denaby 169 for 8South Kirkby 188
R Coope 36; T Sadler4-75 C Russell 62; H Shoesmith 4-49, Wass 3-45
On Saturday, Denaby had for their visitors South Kirkby, who struck a bad patch with the opening of the season, and achieve their first victory only on the previous Saturday against York.
The visitors took first knockand started very badly indeed. Clem Hobson was back in the Pavilion with only two runs on the board. After Shoosmith had sent down two maidens,Hobson failed to survive an appeal for leg before off the first ball of Shoosmith´s third over. A second disaster quickly followed on the heels of the first. Jack Bidmead give a very easy chance off Wass to Dick Coope in the gully. It was not taken, but with the next ball of the game, sent down by Shoosmith, Bidmead was clean bowled. The visitors lost the third wicket at 28, Cantrell putting a ball from Wass into Shoosmith’s hands. Jim Tait was linkman batsmen, and he and Steve Sandler carried the score to 47, when suddenly fell a victim to Wass. He had played what was, under the circumstances, a very useful innings for 26. Now the veteran George Baddiley, was seen at the crease, but not for long. With Amir single to his credit, Tibbles snatched him up at first slip. This was another wicket for Shoosmith, who was bowling well.
Five were down for 48. The next wicket added 23 runs, then Coope took a fine running catch, and Jim Tait, who had gathered a dozen, made way for “Sandy” Bairstow.
Now a change came over the game, C Russell, to whom centuries in Council cricket are not unknown quantities, displayed the tendency of left-handed batsmen to knock the cover of the ball, and “Sandy” was also in a run getting mood. Between them they added 95 to the total, Russell himself hitting 62. When the visitors seventh wicket fell the total had been carried to 142 and, before they also were out, the total knocked up, despite the bad start, was 188.
Shoosmith had claimed four wickets for 49 runs, Wass had taken three for 45 and George Worthington one for 36.
Denaby did notstart very convincingly. At 23 Sandler got Luther Robinson´s wicket. At 42 George Worthington, who had takenhis place, followed him to the Pavilion after playing on a ball from Cullen. Shoesmith join Foster, but with the score at 50, Foster´s innings was terminated.He put a ball from Sadler into Baddiley´s hands.
Shoesmith went for 40, but the crowd were then given a treat with a nice display by Will Narraway, who contributed 27. Ted Tibbles was dismissed for 16 and Arthur Robinson for 5.
It now remained to be seen what Denaby tail could do by way of hitting of the necessary runs for victory within the narrowing time margin. Dick Coope did his best. He laid about him with a heavy hand, and it really looked as if Denaby could pull the game off. With 36 to his credit, however, Dick was caught out, and the game ended with Denaby score at 169 for eight.
Apparently a misunderstanding about timerobbed the game of exciting finish, for, when stumps were drawn both teams appear to be under the impression that a further 10 minutes remain for play, and both teams seemed to fancy their chance of a decision in their favour.