CRICKET.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 14940, 13 March 1912, Page 9

CRICKET.

NOTES AND COMMENTS. THE DISTRICT CHAMPIONSHIPS. Ghattox do not seem to havo a hard task beforo them in their match against Ponsonby. In the first day's play on a sticky wicket they' disposed of tho latter for tho meagre total of 131 runs, the fielding generally being well up to tho standard. Grafton had just time to go in beforo play was stopped, and made 29 rims for tho loss of one wicket. Ponsonby's start was a, promising one, and the opening batsmen showed good form, even though the- bowling was not of tho order ono could take risks with. N. C. Snedden made a brisk 34, hitting out smartly all round the wicket. Robinson, the other first man, scored 13, and was then caught out. After the disposal of Woods, who got 23, and Wilson, whoso score was 24, a ''rot 1 ' set in, and of the others Kavanagh (13) alone made a show.

Harvie secured the splendid average of five wickets for 31 runs, and Neill cam© next with three for 35. MacCormick is still in for Grafton with 17 runs to his credit. McMath commenced bowling well for Ponsonby, and has, so far, bowled three overs for no runs. The play in the North Shore-Parnell match, at the Devonport Domain, was not such as to create much enthusiasm. There was not- a, great deal of enterprise in the North Shore batting. While the wicket was easy and tho wetness of the ball a Handicap to the bowlers, North Shore batting was patchy. At the same time, it must be conceded that their score of 183 is equal to quite 220 on a perfectly dry ground, for the heavy outfield prevented a lot of good carpet hits from reaching tho boundary. North Shore's opening pair, Bush and Farquharson, provided a study in contrasts. Bush hit with confidence and batted for runs but his companion was bent on stonewalling tactics. Consequently while Bush made 54 Farquharson scored 11. Bush batted well, and his score included six fours. Both Farquharson and Sale, who followed Bush, were very smartly caught by Ellis, behind the wickets.

Howden and G. Dacro then, became associated. The former started with great confidence, and a two and then a couple of fours brought him into double figures. But in trying another boundary hit off Kerr's bowling, he miss-hit the ball high into the air, to Kissling, at square-leg. Dacre was lucky, but there were one or two nice hits in his score of 26. Howie, who made 15, also batted nicely. L. Dacre, the very promising North Shore- colt, opened attractively, squarecutting a ball from Kerr to the" boundary, with a beautifully-timed and wristy stroke. He played Kerr's bowling well," but when lie got to the other end he was uncomfortable to Olliff's breaks, and at last one of them came right back from the off-stump and whipped off the leg-bail—such a ball that Dacro was very surprised to find he was out. But the "best batting in the "tail" was that of Ralfe, who played very nice cricket until ho tried to repeat a drive off Kerr's bowling and found the ball come back sharply into the stumps. Italfe'a tally of 38 included a six, off Olliff's bowling, and four fours. The best of the Parnell bowlers was Kerr, who bowled unchanged throughout the afternoon, and sent down 32 overs, in which he took five wickets for 60 runs. Kerr kept a fine length throughout, and had to be played carefully. Olltff did not find the wicket at first to his liking, and it was not until he went on again much later in the innings that he got wickets. Ho took three for 66, and two of the batsmen he dismissed were Joyce and McNeill. L. Dacre was the only one of the more consistent batsmen whom he troubled to any extent. The -landing feature of the Eden- * Varsity match was undoubtedly the brilliant batting performance of Hemus. He started carefully, _ but having got Ids eye in, ho set about him in fine style. He was very severe on a loose ball, and smashed it to the boundary. In contrast to some excellent "woody" drives, he placed some neat leg glances carefully out of reach of the fieldsmen. He gave a fairly easy chance whon in the seventies, but otherwise his innings of 91 was a faultless one. I. Mills did not take long in making a start to score. Though most of his strokes were on the off side, ho got away a few very nice ones to leg. Like Hemus, he treated loose balls 'as they should be treated, and sent them spinning to the boundary. This player has a bad habit of calling out to his partner too much, which is distinctly irritating at times. Taylor played excellent cricket for his score of 58, and ho had extremely hard luck in playing one ball on to his wicket off Wallace. His strokes wore made all round the wicket, some particularly well timed cuts being well in evidence. He also made some grand drives. Gordon batted briskly when he went in, and his score of 55 (not out) mounted up in little timo. Though no great hits were recorded, ho scored very consistently, keeping the ball well down and out of reach of the fieldsmen. Given the same conditions a.g last Saturday, Gordon should certainly carry his score to a big total when the match ,is resumed. With four wickets down for 285 Eden are iu a very good position.

WEDNESDAY ASSOCIATION. *" Tho Wednesday Cricket Association's fixtures for to-day are: —Bakers v. Dairymen, at Domain; Karangabape v. Permanent Force, at Domain. Waterside Workers a bye. Tho following teams have been selected : — Dairymen (v. Bakers) : Horspool (captain), Josey, Stolz, Coppins, Webber, Cleaves, Kingston, Sebley, Barraclough. Stolz, Coates. Bakers: Stallaid, Greenwood, Finer. Homo, Wright,'Stevenson, Farrant, Smith, Purdie, Coates, Waddell, Hayward. Karangahapo . (v. Permanent Force): Eaton. Brown, Pennyquick, Larder, Peek, Morgan, Beasley. Hopkinson (2), Crawshaw, Lamb, Moore, Stirling, and Mullinger.