CRICKET.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 230, 2 November 1914, Page 2

CRICKET.

THE SENIOR COMPETITION. With but two rounds of the competition played, only two of the Canterbury Cricket Association's senior teams lire undefeated. These are the two Sydenham Club elevens. The Sydenham B team leads, having scored a three-points'win and a two-points' win. Next.is Sydenham A, with a couple of two-points'* wins to its credit. Linwood "has secured a three-points victory, and East Cliristchureh, West Christchurch, and St. Albans have each won a "twopointer." Riccarton and Kaiapoi have yet to win a nir.tch. A NOTABLE WIN. Quite the brightest of the senior cricket at Hagley Park last Saturday afternoon wr. s the first half-hour of ?lay in the Riccarton-St. Albans game. n thirty minutes of batting that delighted the spectators, D. Lamb and J. S. Barrett changed almost assured, defeat into a victory for St. Albans. ... On the first Saturday, Riccarton*s iirst innings had yielded 105 runs, and St. Albans had nine wickets down for 117 funs. The ninth wicket had fallen within a minute or so of the time for drawing stumps for the day, with liamb's score 6 not out, and Barrett to go in as last man. There did not seem much hope of the' last wicket partner-ship-adding the 78 runs required to avert defeat, considering that the' previous wickets had averaged but 13 runs apiece. But the "forlorn >hope" succeeded. Most batsmen would have *'played" the bowling until they had taken the sting out of it by degrees-r----and most ".tail-end" batsmen would 3have failed completely in such an attempt. Lamb and Barrett went after the runs in different style —and they " succeeded. Their's was the daring -which commanded success. They simply went at the bowling from the start, ** and their aggressiveness worried the liowlers more than any mere '* playing " would have done. They put on 98 ; , runs in half-an-hour, by free, bright hit- " ting—an excellent performance indeed! As \he score-/ose, and hope of a lead on the first innings came to St. Albans, r"\ 'keen interest was aroused in the spec- '-•'/ tatprs. Up and up went tho score, I' and pulls' were the chief feature batting, and the cricket watcher ijoy a hefty drive! Some of the ere uppish, but they fell out of >£ the fieldsmen. One run behind .ecarton seore, Barrett lifted a ■om Boultdn very, high, midway n -'squarq-leg and long-on* As all dropped, with square-leg runjr, it, excitement became intense, /ball won the race, and St. Alreathed again. The hit had proa single, ,and Lamb faced BoulThe next ball was driven by for four, and St. Albans'lcd. A iuuteftJa**?TL a,nlt> (-lrove ' a H 1X > ° ■ ' s , A minute or two i&fr&tt l 'hrVVp a ball from Boul-rward-'the spot, where his stroke hajd\fallen r ,aiid this time W. B. Va£ "under- the ball. Lamb thereritjvMt '-'with' • a - score of 67 not ia Barrett'? total Vas 37/ Lamb elve "fours x and one '," 6—54' by ay strokes in a total of 67 indi--IQ.W bright his batting was. 'act, Lamb was the hero of the,for in Riccarton's. inttetook five wickets for 48 runs. is keeping a better length than & previous Saturday, and was;' ng a bit at tiroes.. Sandman, at ler end, was getting a good deal urn." on the • ball, but was not g such a good length as he mainon, the first day of the match, however, the St. Albans s had more assistance from the arton's second innings started the first four batsmen—Whitta, lor, L. A. Caygill, and A. O. FulJCI only 31 runs between them. U. R. Caygill and W. B. Clarkson, however, made a good stand. Caygill was cautious, but not so painfully cautious * as he was a week before. His 42 runs ■wore obtained by sound batting. darken . -(23), H. Bell (22), and E. Boulton (23) batted well., LINWOOD'S DEFEAT. There was not much to comment on in the LinAvood-West Christchurch game, which was won by West by 126 runs on the first innings. A. W. Thomas was in good form with the bat for Linwood, and made his scores of .11 and 60 not out by means of free, attractive batting, with plenty of gdod driving in it. In his first innings he was dismissed by a fine catch by Butler, at long-on, off Bryan-Brown's bowling. d. .Jones made his 41 in Linwood's first innings ■with good,--steady cricket, ! including some lusty drives. G. Tate .also batted well for his .35..n0t out.in the second innings. Taking it all round, the batting in the senior games played at Hagley Park was not as good as it should have been. The wind and sun which had followed Thursday's rain had left the wickets fairly '' easy,'' and although 'the bowlers, were getting a bit of "turn" on, the ball could be watched right up to thejbat. A NARROW VICTORY. A was somewhat lucky in securing a win against East Cliristchureh by the narrow margin of 28 runs. Had the East "cracks," Beal, Carlton, or Dwyer, made anything .like a showing the iposition must surely have been reversed. But no, the glorious uncertainty of pricket ''prevailed,'-, and these three meq! left the field after adding but two xuns amongst,them. The bowling of the Sydenham team is not quite up to standard. Another couple of bowlers of the "Joe" Bcnonetf type would be a great asset. Patterson and Bennett, kept a good length to Start with, but when they were tired, slow broak.-bQwle.rs were! i tasor tod to. Of these, Gray proved the most effective, he securing-four wickets for 36 arujns. : His victims,, though,'! looked for difficulties, and poked abox<t till disaster befel' them. Martin sends down a similar ball to Gray, but except for the break there is nothing in them, and a good wielder of the willow ought to send a good many of them for six. JHandfordi and Criehton, who. played oni time on the previous Saturday, resumed, but Bennett got Handford lbw when he had added only four to his jprevious score. Criehton made a good

stand, but scored his runs very sloAvly. He batted an hour and three-quarters for his 41. There is not much variety in his strokes, but he watches the ball well, and gives few chances. Greenlees suffered considerably from "stagefright" for the first few overs, but he gradually settled down, and was going strongly when Hayes caught and bowled him at 32.

Greenlees *s wicket-keeping on Saturday,was a treat to watch, and if he can maintain his form, and make runs in the bargain, he will certainly have to be considered, for representative honours. Blank made a useful 28 in quick time off Gray's slow bowling, which suited him, but he "skied" one from Martin, and was neatly 'caught by Bennett. North gave great promise of dragging the game out of the fire, but after hitting a six off Gray he succumbed to the same bowler, being caught in the outfield by Patterson. The remainder of the eleven, of whom much was expected, were disappointing. Carlton went out first ball from Hayes, and Beal was dismissed by Bennett's third ball. McClelland, the not out man, was unfortunate in having no one to keep up the other end, for he was showing good form. He should have gone iu in .Jones's place. Shortly after five o'clock, Woods and Haves opened the second iunings for Sydenham, and runs came very freely. These two representative men gave a pleasing exhibition of free hitting, and in half an hour put on over 100 runs between them. With Woods's score at 45, McLaughlan got him with a beauty, but at six o'clock Hayes, with 80 to his credit, remained unbeaten. The score, four for 159, showed that Sydenham meant business in the second innings. KAIAPOI BEATEN EASILY. Sydenham B had no difficulty in disposing of the Kaiapoi team, at Kaiapoi. On the first dav, Kaiapoi had scored 167 runs, and Sydenham B had 136 runs on for four wickets. The two not out men. Ayling (19) and Wilson (12) set about the bowling in good style, Ayling being particularly aggressive. Orders were given the Sydenham men to hit and make runs quickly, as soon as the Kaiapoi total had been passed, with the result that chances were offered to the field by forcing the game. Wilson had sc.ored*26 by careful cricket when he got his leg in front to a ball from McGregor. Hincksman joined Ayling, and the pair put on runs at a great rate. Ayling was within a three of the coveted centurv when he was caught by McGregor, off "J. Brown. He. played good all-round cricket. " His defence was good, while'he quickly "sent ■■'.!: ny loose balls' post-haste to the boundary. He hit two sixes and twelve fours, and took : thirty-five minutes to make his 97. He gave three chances, one to mitt-off, another to point, when, he was in the fiftiesj'and one in the slips. At 97 he tipped a ball,from ..J.- Brown to McGregor, in the slips, who made no mistake.

. After feeling liis way for the first two overs, Hineksman got the measure of the bowling/ and made 56 without giving la -ehanc-V llis /hitting was clean, eVpeeiallv on- the Uuo. of these leg-hits got well on! to Dr Crawshaw's §hibs, and caused the- doctor's retirement,- Conradi-'going out 'tO;.field as sub: stitute for him. .. Eventually Gonradi caught Hincksmaii at mid-off, off a mishity the batsman's first mistake- HineksOnly took twenty-three minutes to complete. McClelland was never at home, but; lie made fi useful score. Mcßetli went out to have a go at the tired bowling, but was run out- after making two. Watts made 11 not out. The innings was declared closed with .52.1 on the boafd for nine wickets. Kaiapoi went in again facing a deficit of 156, with two and a half hours in which to make them. The bowling of Wilson and Mcßetli was far too good for the country players.' In fact, Wilson got two wickets, both clean-bowled, before double figures were up, and then Mcßetli had McGregor caught at mid-off by Wilson, for a "duck." Three wickets were down for 10. Blaclcwell shaped well for seven, and then was clean bowled by Wilson. This bowler was ihaking the ball turn considerably both ways, to the discomfiture of the batsmen. The only man that could play htm was Smith, and he was content at that.* Mcßetli, at the other end, had it practically all his own way, keeping a good length, and making the ball get up; it was hitting the batsmen in the ribs and about the body, which made them over-cautious, and resulted in the scattering of their stumps, or the "spooning" lof the ball to one or other of the fieldsmen. llownrth went in last, and had a few blind hits, which were mostly at Wilson 's expense. McBetli clean-bowled hi.ni in the next over, and as batted; two men short, the innings closed in an hour for 52 runs, Sydenham B winning, with an hour and a quarter to spare, by an innings and 104 runs. McßethV bowling performance, four for 17, was a line one. An easy chance of stumping was missed off his bojwliiig, and two easy 'chances • were misfeedjat the. wicket off Wilson; who ' also liad good figures. " THE ENGLISH SEASON. In a review of the season .just ended in England, an English writer says: — Everyone ought to have a big appreciation of the "all-rounder"; yet, I fear, the man who makes a habit of scoring something over 2000 runs, or capturing something like 200 wickets —the man, that is to say, who specialises in one department of the game —is regarded by the public eye with far more favour than the man who gathers annually his 1000 runs at a modest-looking average, and his 100 wickets at modest average. Yet actually he lias done- two - men's work. He is as good as two men to his side. He serves his team in a- dual . role. * ' > Take the case of Albert Relf. Year after year he has borne the brunt of the Sussex bowling, and contributed largely to the score sheet.. Beginning with 1£)04 there has been"only one 'seasoxi "do>vn to the present in which he has failed to take more than a hundred wickets and to ore; Over 1000 runs—l9o9 .wajs the 'season of his omission. But it is fairly certain that he would have .been selected mdre often for England—nbt tb mention the Players—diad las gifts been concen-

trated in one direction. That is to say, had it been his fate to score regularly over 2000 runs per season, or to obtain over 200 wickets per season. SATURDAY'S PLAY SUMMARISED. Sydenham B, 323 for nine wickets (innings declared), defeated Kaiapoi, 167 and 52, hy an innings and 104 runs. Sydenham A, 193 and 159 for four wickets, defeated East Cliristchureh, 163, on the first innings, by 28 runs. St. Albans, 215 and 37 for three wickets, beat Riccarton, 195 and 168, on the first innings, by 10 runs. West Christchurch, 284, beat Linwqod, 158 and 183 for six wickets, on the first innings, by 126 runs. THE DAY'S HONOURS. . SENIOR GRADE BATTING. O. Ayling (Sydenham B) ..97 C. Hayes (Sydenham A) .. 80* I). Lamb (St. Albans) .. .. 67* SECOND GRADE BATTING. Russell (Linwood) . . . . 86 Taylor (Riccarton) . . . . 83* E. Haughey (East Chch.) .. 55 Hayes (East Christchurch) .. 53* Parton (St. Albans) .. .. 52 ■'Signifies not out. SENIOR GIf.VDE BOWLING. D. Mcßeth (Sydenham B), four for 17 G. Wilson (Sydenham B), 4/33 J. Gray (Sydenham A), 4/36 D. Lamb (St. Albans), 5/48.

CITY AND SUBURBAN NOTES. Railway made a fine start against Rangers in their second innings, putting up 60 for two wickets, but with the dismissal of Warren, who batted well for 54, a "rot" set in, and all were out for 103, two men being absent. Norman and Porter bowled well for Rangers, and were responsible for the small total. Sydenham Hockey Club has its game against Belfast well in hand, with a lead of 138 on the first innings and one wicket to fall. Fairclough got going and put up 87, while Sheridan worked havoc with the ball, getting the remarkable figures of four wickets for six runs, including the "hat trick." Neate, for St. Albans Seniors, played a fine innings for his 79. Coming up from the Junior Grade last year, he has proved very consistent. He failed in the first match this season, but has evidently got into form again.

Y.M.C.A. had Taylor from the Juniors keeping wickets. " The Y.M.C.A. Club would do well to keep him in the senior teaui, as he is a medium bat and a wicket-keeper of no mean order. Druids created a surprise by defeating Glehmore very easily, having a margin of 150 runs. Spieer batted well, putting up 66, and Hazel Smith 'scored 26 and 24. Anderson, behind the stumps, is improving, and if he keeps in form he should be worth considering for representative matches, noAV that Burton has retired from the game for the season. I understand- that Burton's injured knee is giving him trouble. However, as Sydenham Hockey Club has Bellamy to fill his place, that team may not be weakened to any great extent. It seems very difficult to believe that a team like-Glenmore should; go. but\for such small scores as 48 and 67, as-it has some fine batsmen in Sariims, Egan, and H. Mills, but Rix and Spieer are a great pair when they are "on the job" with the ball. H. Grammar opened his account with a half-century for Linwood Wanderers. The latter team had a great victory over Islington-Hornby. After being 45 behind on the, first innings, to pull, up that and win by a margin of 103 runs is a fine performance, especially against such a team as Hornby had out. I was pleased to see the Dunstable team making a score at last, as it showed great promise at the close of last season. Parker put on a useful 30 on \ Saturday, and Ginders "came to light" Avith 25. They would do better to hit I out a little more.

G. Frame is in great form for St. John's, he putting up 48 not out again on Saturday. He is not a stylish bat, but he certainly possesses-hitting power that is very useful. The St. John's team is leading- in the junior competition by One point, with Woolston next. • The Edgeware President's team man, G. Saville, is a very useful addition to the St. Albans junior team. His scores so far are 81, 5, 16, 32, an average of 90 re

Hobson (26) and Ziinmermann (22) were the; chief scorers for St.. Peter's against; Y.M.C.A., out of a total, of 114. Zimmermann also, did good work with the ball. : > ; Shadrach'.played a fine innings for Druids, knocking up 52. He has not been batting at all well in the past season,; and lias been transferred from Senior Grade. However, he struck his old form again on Saturday, and brought off some "good off-strokes. Steinman is bowling well for Druids. He got the fine average of five wickets at'3.o funs a-pieee on Saturday against Belfast. ■ - . , Duggan has improved in batting this year, his average being 18.5. McCloskie performed' well with the ball, getting "five wickets for five runs. ... Ainger got into his stride against Richmond,; and put up 67. His average to date is 32. ' ■■' • The Rev. Mathias opened his account well, putting on 34. The rev. gentleman is a useful member in a team, for, although a. slow scorer, he breaks the bowling. . Woolston only just beat Green's by three runs. The slow scoring of Woolston is no, indication, of poor batsmen,, but.rather a tribute,to the bowling of = R. French, who got five for 19. The: total score of Woolston was 45, which Green's failed to ; reach, owing to the. bowling Of Harrall, who got four wickets for two runs. I must compliment Green's team on the improvement.- -airthe fielding, as when that team first came out it was ; Very "raw." Kelly batted well for Boys' GordonHall Third orade. team, compiling 41. Patterson got 30:.; . ' ■':■■, McLachlan knocked up 5d for St. Peter's and Harvey 27. ; , ■ ; Dunstable could only muster 4S in both innings, the bowling of Harvey and Pitt being too deadly J Olsen won the match for :Y;M.C.A. against Druids, lie putting up 48 out of a total of 78. COVER-POINT.