NORTH SHORE v. BALMORAL.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 39, 16 February 1928, Page 15

NORTH SHORE v. BALMORAL.

Completely deceived by the appearance of the wicket at Victoria Park, the Balmoral skipper had no limitation in taking first strike, but the ♦rT +l!*- 'H,.** 10 grade soon ascertained, o their dismay, that their reckcnin- * a» sadly out of plumb, in fact as far ! bat t'ng was concerned thev had a rinhl.v ing p t,X ' PerionCe ' arKl Wic ' kets fell rapidly. Persevering with safety tactic* they fared no better, the Shore tn.ndlers", anfl r"! ancl , Smith . showed no mercy, and Balmoral were all out for a paltry twenty-two runs. Three of the side were caught through the ball hitting heir Lands Tins gives some idea of the state of the wicket. Spicer was the only batsman to reach double figure* wlnle no less than five of the Balmoral players failed to score. Sensational figures were obtained by both Shore bow ers. Walters (five for 8, showed good form the majority of his victims o 1 off « ood length balls. F . Smith (four for 3) utilised an off-break to advantage. The wicket assisted both and frequently the antics of the ball surprised the bowlers as well as the batsmen.

North Shore profiting bv the experience of Balmoral adopted hitting tactics, and thanks to -Lucas, Scott and Foster reached 8». Lucas (27) gave a hurricane display, getting five fours on the leg-side. In attempting another he was caught in the outfield. Scott (23) was not quite so aggressive, and showed pood defence, but did not relish the fast bowling. Foster (19 not out) shaped best, and executed some nice shots on both sides of the wickets, although sooring chiefly with off strokes. For Balmoral, E. Evans (four for 13) was at the top of his form—bowline faster than usual and making the ball bump a good deal. Spicer (five for 38) tossed up over-pitched balls at the start, but later settled down and did the damage. In their second attempt Balmoral did' not change their methods until too late, although through the enterprise of Purcell and Simmons, the total was increased from 43 for nine wickets to 108, the pair adding 65 for the last wicket.

Purcell (.33 not out) attacked the bowling, anc i during ]iis twentv-fivc minutes occupation of the batting crease hit four sixes and four fours, thereby brightening up r.n otherwise colourless display. Simmons (10) showed something of his form of a couplc of seasons a r°." es id es a sound defencc he exhibited a nice square cut. 1 he la>t wicket stand somewhat spoilt Scott s figures. Nevertheless he wound up with Jive wickets at a cost* of four runs apiece, deal (two for 2">) came in lor punishment from Purcell, but trundled welf. Requiring 42 runs for an outright victory North Shore succeeded with the loss of three wickets. Unfortunately for Balmoral Berridge and Spicer, two of their best trundiers. had left the ground.

WINDMILL V. PONSONBY,

The game between Windmill and Ponsonby was considered a good thing lor the former, but contrary to expectations, Ponsonby more than held their own. Ponsonby opened most auspiciously on a wicket that soon proved treacherous. Dale and Finer taking the score to o3 before a separation was effected. Although both were dismissed in 'Woods' iifth over, the satisfactory stflte of the register was maintained by a partnership by Lendruin and Finney, who carried the total to 111 for three wickets. The advent of Spragg at the bowling crease, however, caused some consternation among the remainder of the side, and the innings closed abruptly with the score at 143. Finney (28) topped the list, playing safe to anything with a shadow" of danger, and scoring off the loose balls. Ho hit three fours and two threes. Dale (27) batted with confidence, obtaining the bulk of his runs, which included half a dozen threes, on the leg side. Lendrum (22) was the most aggressive, opening with a couplc of fours off England's last over. Finer (14) was steady, picking up a stray four on the leg side. The outstanding howler for Windmill was Spragg (six for 12), who was the last of the quartet to handle the 'ball. Sending down a fairly fast straight ball, he clean bowled five out of six victims. N. E. Obren (two for 23) served up five overs of slow breaks. Windmill found the wicket more difficult than Ponsonby, and beyond a good partnership between Wood and Fravling for the third and Spragg and

X. W. Obren for the fifth, the Tonsonby bowlers controlled the situation, and Windmill were all out for 131. For Ponsonby, Finney, with a leg break, took four wickets for nine runs in a dozen overs. McKee (four for 14) was a trifle lucky, getting Woods with a full toss. So far Ponsonby had every reason to be gratified with the state of affairs, but their efforts were to a great extent discounted by the result of the remainder of the play, for they cut a sorry figure against the bowling of Spragg. When time was called they had lost six wickets for eight runs. Spragg captured live wickets at a co>t of a run each. Fielding for Windmill at silly point, X. R. Obren took three excellent catches.

TAKAPUNA V. EPSOM UNITED.

Epsom United and Takapuna, holding the second and third positions in their section, met on a tricky wicket and both made the. same score, 125. Epsom had the advantage of first strike, Mingins (13) and Murphy (3-3) opening with a partnership of 20. which terminated with Burton beating the former with a good-length off-break. Murphv carried on the scoring with pretty leg glances and on drives—five boundaries being included in his tally. McMurtrie scored —the result of more vigorous cricket, his main strokes being on the off. Andrews made 10 before he put his leg in front of a straight one from Minogue. This bowler was tue most successful of the seasiders, capturing five wickets at a cost of nine a piece. He sent down a most varied assortment, but seldom any of the batsmen were able to cope with his leg theory. Cooper bowled seven overs, three of which were maidens, bagging two wickets for 12 runs. Faram and Burton both got a wicket for 18 runs. Takapuna opened well, but when the nintli wickct fell 21 runs were still required to equalise with Epsom. However, this amount was added before Andrews shattered Laing's wicket, to leave the result of the match very much "in the air." For Takapuna Burton (17) and Griffin (10). made 20 for the opening partnership. Four wickets then fell quickly, Andrews taking all for 20 runs. Minogue (30) came to the rescue, his tally being compiled by square cuts and cover drives, five of which reached the chalk line. Oliphant (16) gave a brief, but exhilarating exhibition, but it fell to Faram to stubbornly fight for runs when 'they were badly needed. His 16 not out under the circumstances was

a very line effort. In Epsom Andrews and Hart bore the whole of the attack, bowling unchanged throughout the inning?, Andrews (seven for 79) was the more destructive. He bowls the off theory consistently, but now and again changes his pacc, but this seldom surprises a batsman as the change can be seen long before the ball is bowled. He also had his "spot."' which resulted in many balls snooting, whils others bumped badly. Hart (two for 32) bowled consistently throughout the innings. Epsom commenced their second innings and when stumps were drawn # 'iad :>1 runs on tho board without a loss (Mingins If not out and Murphy 19 not- out).

ALL SAINTS' V. GRAFTON

There were no complaints about the wickct set aside for the contest between All Saints' and Grafton, both sides being well satisfied with the state of the pitch. Grafton had first hand and with 94 on the slate for the loss of lour wickets, looked like amassing a respectable total, but their calculations were completely shattered by X. Cashmore disturbing the "tail" and the innings closed for 102. Teape (oO) and Stone (26) were instrumental in raising Grafton's hopes. Both played lively cricket and were not frightened to open out at the bowling. The bulk of the runs camc from forceful strokes on both sides of the wicket. Wilsoi# (ll>) was the most successful of the remainder. The outstanding bowler for All Saints' was X. Caslimore live for four). His slow leg break, with a deceptive flight, puzzled the batsmen. Reid (three for 3fi) and Thompson (two for 37) secured the rest of the wickets. In reply All Saints' knocked up 196 runs for four wickets before stumps were drawn for the .day. Swinton (40) i took full toll of the vfeak attack. Batting aggressively jje was very severe on anything on the leg side. Reid (40 not out) opened quietly, but after getting the measure of the bowling livened up and gave his best display of the season. Rev. W. Averill (3G) made his first appearance for All Saints', and compiled his runs by good cricket, and judging by his display should prove an acquisition. The burden of the Grafton attack fell to ITorspool, who secured three wickets for 41 runs.

PARNELL V. YJJ.C.A. Parnell met Y.M.C.A. at the Domain under similar conditions experienced Inmost of the other teams. The latter winning the toss took first strike, the decision suiting the Parnell skipper admirably. \.M.C.A. were not long in occupation being dismissed for 54 runs. R. Bell (38) was responsible for the majority of runs, the outcome of good cricket. He showed sound defence. 0 but when the right ball came along hit veryhard and saved the side from a complete collapse.

It was a namesake that did the damage with the ball. Finding a wicket to his liking the Parnellite secured six wickets for 17 runs. He kept a fine length and turned the ball a lot from leg. A left-hander, under suitable conditions, he is one of the most difficult bowlers in tlie grade to negotiate. Parnell replied with 172, the wicket showing a little improvement. Two fine partnerships were features of the innings. Dr. Turbott and Foster added 67 for the third wicket, while a last wicket effort in which Russell and Bell were associated, yielded 52 runs, two short of Y.M.C.A.'s first innings' total. Dr. Turbott (37) gave a soimd di«ulny. making most of his runs with square cuts ana off drives. , Russell recently from the lower grade, scored freely, hitting a six and five fours. Chiefly with hard drives Foster (29) collected his runs in his usual steady manner. Four others also lent assistance in swelling the total. Johnston (17), Bown (17), Bell (16), and O'Hara (13) getting double figures. Sinclair (four for 36) maintained a steady length and profited by the mistakes of the batsmen. -Sparling (three for 49), a slow bowler, suffered some punishment. Y.M.C.A. did.not perform much better in their second innings, and when stumps were drawn for the day the score stood at 35 runs for the loss of five wickets. Sinclair (11) batted 1 rather patiently.

MATCH AX KING'S COLLEGE. King's College reassembled on Tuesday, and on Wednesday afternoon resumed their midweek cricket matches with the A.W.A. cricket team. Notajle absentees from last year's college eleven were Pearson, Guy and Ormiston. Gillett. the college captain, won the toss from Beale. and sent the visitors to field, he and Browne opening the innings to the bowling K. S. Taylor (right) and W. 11. Johnston (lefo. At 17 Gillett was caught at the wicket, and at :» Lewis was stumped, both by Hutter off Johnston. A. M. llowden accounted for Browne, caupht at short leg by Coates. and I*. C. Kurley. replacing Taylor, clean bowled Caughey and Howden with his first two balls. Browne 24. Chennells 10. and Major 13 were the only double figure scorers in a total of 71. Kurley. four wickets for 7 runs. Howden three for 12. Johnston two for 22. and Wilson one for 10. secured the wickets, and were supported by good fielding. Hutter. keeping wicket excellently, caught two and stumped one. E. Mulgan (Watuku) and W. J. Coates proved the right opening batsmen for the visitors, putting on 67 before Mulgan was run out for a well-played 46. Dr. F. K. Leonard (Waiuku) (retired) 3S, A. M. Howden (retired) 36. Kurley 35 not out (including onfc six). Coaties 26, K. 11. Wilson IS (including two fine sixes), Johnston 12. and K. G. Beale lu not out. all helped materially to build up a total of 231 for nine wickets at call of time..

Lewis obtained three wickets, Catsghey two. and Thomson one. and considering their two mouths' absence from the game the Collegians tielded well.

• Another match between the same teams will be played next Wednesday, provided ra;n does not prevent.