South Yorkshire Times, May 22nd 1948
Whitsun’s Magnificent Cricket Festival.
Whitsun has given us one of the most magnificent Cricket Festival in years (marked by a Hutton century at Headingley to delight the hearts of Yorkshire men in this traditional fixture).
It was surprising to find that bowling had the greater quality than batsmanship in Saturday Yorkshire Council and South Riding League matches. There were some surprising results, notably Mexborough’s collapse at Shiregreen after their defeat of Frickley in a recovery from similar circumstances a week earlier. Sill’s workman like bowling at Darfield earned him eight Darfield wickets for eight runs – inside seven overs (one of which was a maiden), while Bob White lent a further joyous fling to the Elsecar – Scunthorpe match by change bowling with Scunthorpe 44 for four, and taking a hat-trick. In contrast on Monday, the Dearne- Rawmarsh match produced over 400 runs!
Dramatic Recovery
Frickley 70 Swinton 71 for 6
An exciting match, with a dramatic recovery by Swinton, resulted in Frickley being beaten by four wickets in the Yorkshire Council fixture at South Elmsall on Saturday. Frickley batting weakness was again in evidence, for against the change bowling of W.Ward (six for 34) and B.Bailey (four for 34) the batsmen cut a sorry figure. The first three men in offered as slight resistance, but apart from them only one other batsmen reached double figures as they were out in 80 minutes..
Surviving some early shocks, Swinton knocked off the runs about the same time. They had six wickets down for 44, but A.Auty (34) and E.Cadman (14) defied the Frickley bowlers and took their team to victory without further loss. For Frickley A.Whiteout took four for 35 and F.Kevern’s two for 28.
Match Winner.
Swinton 150 for 6 Darfield 148
Brian Bailey (picture), 17-year-old Swinton cricketer, was a real matchwinner for Swinton in their match against Darfield at Swinton on Tuesday when Swinton defeated Darfield by four wickets. Darfield scored 148, Bailey, taking six for 12. He bowled 8 overs and three were maidens.
The attack was mainly on top in both innings, although Swinton played carefree cricket and scored at more than a run a minute. However, from 25 for one, when Parkin was caught for 16, the score became 48 for4. Bailey came in at this score and produce some steady batting and stayed at the wicket until Swinton were victorious at 150 for six. Of this Bailey scored 53, including six fours.
At one period it seemed that the Darfield innings would not reach 100, but hard-hitting by wicket-keeper, H.Allen, who hit five fours in an over, boosted their total.
Ackworth 104 Denaby and Cadeby 104
A run out gave Ackworth a tie with Denaby at Ackworth on Saturday. After standing at five for 38, Ackworth lost sixth and seventh wicket at 71, but went on to one or four (W Blackburn 50)
Denaby had 100 on the board for seven wickets, lost their eighth wicket, at the same total and ninth and 10th at 104.
Shiregreen 30 for 3 Mexborough 28
Shiregreen reopened their Hadfield House Lane ground on Saturday and dismissed their visitors, Mexborough for 28 in 14 overs. Eight runs from opening batsmen H.Foster was top score. Wright took five for 12 and Raynor five for 15.
Shiregreen replied with 30 for 3 to give their supporters a real holiday tonic
Denaby and Cadeby 130 for 6 Mexborough 128
Denaby beat Mexborough by four wickets at Tickhill square in glorious weather on Monday, but they had to force victory in a grand scrap with an always unrelenting attack. Mexborough, put on 128 (Fretwell 31, Ingham 13, Foster 10, Williams 21, Brown 13 not out) in just over two hours. Jim Richards claiming four of their wickets for 21 and Bullard three for 23.
The Munden – A Roberts, opening partnership for Denaby, was broken at 10, but thereafter Munden and Cutts built the foundation for victory, taking the score to 84 for two (Munden scored 20 and Cutts 62). The fun started with a fall of wickets, the board, progressing through stages of three for 83, five for 98 and six for 111. Barron had three for 33. Bouquet for Hirst for some very smart fieldwork; he twice hit the stumps in snappy returns from the outfield
Harworth 149 for 4 Elsecar 188 for 7
Ernie Neville scored his first half century for the club in Elsecar’s 188 for 7. Harworth then batted out the draw at 149 for 4
Brilliant Recovery.
South Kirkby 171 for 8 Wath 170 for 8
A brilliant recovery from a weak start, with an unbeaten 93 by D.E.Fletcher as the highlight, enabled South Kirkby to beat Wath by two wickets in an exciting Yorkshire Council match at the Old Mill ground on Saturday. Contributions of 55 and 53 by TK Hargreaves and G Feirn paved the way to a Wath score of 170 for eight when they declared.
S.Ellis (26) and Hargreaves had a second wicket partnership of 40, and the latter and Feirn also made a fine stand. Hargreaves was unlucky when he was struck by the ball under the chin and had to retire with the score at 144. He had hit eight fours, while Feirn had nine boundaries to his credit. R Steel took four for 45 and W Johnson three for 22.
K. Eades (20) and G Bailey (18) opened South Kirkby’s innings with a partnership of 33, but there was a collapse, half the side being out for 46. Fletcher came to the rescue and after the eighth wickets had fallen at 117, he and R Steel (17) hit out in a race against time and passed Wath’s score with a few minutes to spare. Fletcher’s 93 included 10 fours and three sixes. For Wath Hargreaves took four for 55