Mexborough and Swinton Times – Saturday 07 May 1904

Hickleton 163 for 5 dec Denaby 79 for 4

The first match to be drawn in the present season’s Mexboro’ League competition was that between Denaby and Cadeby and Hickleton Main, at Denaby on Saturday. It was, moreover, on paper, a very even draw, the score being left in just that position which makes one wish the game had been played to a finish.

Hickleton won the toss and knocked up 163 for five wickets, Newton being not out 66, while F. C. Hoyland, with 39, and Geo. Pinder 25, both batted well. Newton’s was a splendid innings, his scoring being rapid and free after he had played himself in, and it was almost entirely free from mistakes.

The Denaby bowling, so destructive against Swinton on the previous Saturday, was quite innocuous, and no doubt Hickleton would have made a tall score had their innings been concluded.

The Denaby batsmen took no risks when they went in to face Hickleton’s big score. They played for keeps, and the scoring was slow, “Crick” Smith alone hitting with any freedom. Four wickets were down for 78 runs when time applied the closure, and in all, during the match 241 runs were scored for nine wickets—not bad scoring for club cricket.

I was told on Saturday that Denaby stand a very good chance of winning the League championship this season, and it was no partial critic who gave me the tip. They have certainly made a good beginning, but—and there is a “but” in every case—it hardly seems as if their bowling was very effective upon a good wicket. I am afraid a long sequence of drawn matches, such as the combination of good batting with moderate bowling will produce, will not win the Whitworth Cup.