South Yorkshire Times, July 31, 1948
Captains wise Advice gave Mexborough Victory.
Mexborough 78 for 4 Shiregreen 77
Before David Brown, Mexborough’s experience captain, went on holiday. He left instructions that if Mexborough won the toss in their South Riding League game which a green at Hampden Road on Saturday his deputy, Horace Vickers, was to put Shire green into bat.
“Don’t let the Shiregreen bowlers have first use of the new ball.” said David.
Mexborough won the toss and David advice, was faithfully follow. Result: Shire green, only once previously beaten this season in 12 South Riding League games, were all out for 77 and the Mexborough won by six wickets and climbed to 6th place in the section “B” table.
Mexborough began the game without their two regular opening bowlers, R.Hydes and J.Barnes, but Hydes arrived later let off the Mexborough fireworks with a bang. Shiregreen were a trifle naughty in his fourth over, with they scored 16 runs off his bowling, but they ended in a damp squib. Their batsmen went off – and out – with the regularity of Roman candles and Hydes had eight of them back in the Pavilion in no time for 34 runs. Only opening bat D.Smith (33) was happy.
Mexborough began their reply very cautiously. Here was a great occasion – lowly Mexborough, had a great chance of smiting mighty Shiregreen. Slowly but surely the home score mounted – the first half-hour produced only eight runs – but Mexborough’s careful choosing of the right balls and stubborn defence, told the tail and once G.Ingh am (39) and S.Vickers (24 not out) got together the result was never in doubt. Vickers innings was a real fighting affair.
Wath’s Strong Attack.
Wath 65 for 6 South Kirkby 64
A strong attack was that won the match for Wath on Saturday when they defeated South Kirby by four wickets in the South Riding League at Wath. South Kirkby’s score was kept down to 64 and they were all out in under 1 ½hours. They were never comfortable and their highest individual score was obtained by R.Coope (25). Wickets fell with an almost monotonous regularity but the steady performance of the Wath bowlers, of whom feel then took three for 18 and J.O.Heaton 2 for 7. There were hopes among the visitors that the South Kirkby. “Tail” will contribute the remainder of the century when the score stood at 64, but, alas, the “tail” failed to wag at all and merely resulted in three “ducks”. Wath replied with 65 for six. Individual scores were low all round and K Phillips, 19, was Wath’s highest.
Swinton on Top
Swinton 100 for 1 Sheffield City Police 98
Poor batting against good bowling was seen in the first innings at Sheffield on Saturday, when Swinton dismissed City Police in the South Riding league for 98 runs. J Webster (20) was top scorer. The bowling honours went to J. Kerry (four for 22), W Ward (three for 27) and B Bailey (three for 31)
losing Broadhead for six, Swinton recovered and Horace Parkin (46 not out) and Bernard senior (47 not out) saw the runs safely made. This was Parkin’s third uncompleted innings this season.
__________________________________________________________________
Bob Hydes.
A man who can take eight for 34 against Shiregreen these days is somewhat of a rarity, but one turned up for Mexborough on Saturday.Bob Hydes has been among the wickets this season, but never so forcibly as on Saturday, when he helped his side to stop Shiregreen ‘s winning run.
A fast bowler, who moves the ball both ways in the air, Bob joined Mexborough in 1939 from Swinton. He returned from India in 1946 to give Mexborough a grand club man. He is very modest and has not much to say about himself. His address is 4 Beechville Avenue, Piccadilly, Swinton, and his age is 29, married and has one child.
While in India, he played in Service teams, and has played with members of the Indian Test team, including Mustaq Ali and Hasare. These were his most memorable cricket days, and he says he had a grand time.
Of Mustaq Ali, reputed to be the cricketer with the keenest eye of them all, Bob says, “I quite believe it. He moves almost before you bowl, and you find yourself bowling where he wants you to.”
______________________________________________________________________
Gingerbread.
Horace Parkin, Swinton’s opening bat and wicket-keeper as an average of 47.8 runs for the club this season. In 13 innings. He has been unbeaten three times, and only once as he failed to reach double figures. In one innings. He retired hurt when 17 had been made and did not return.
His top score this season was 84 not out against Sheffield Collegiate.