CRICKET.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 59, Issue 140, 27 March 1939, Page 2

CRICKET.

THE BRISTOL CUP MATCH, TIMARU RETAINS THE TROPHY. Brilliant batting by L. Smith, a prolific partnership of 242 runs by Smith and McLauchlan, and a fine battle between the Timaru Club bowlers and the Ashburton Club batsmen made the Britsol Cup match, played at Timaru on Saturday, one of- the most interesting ever played. After the first Timaru Wicket had fallen for 13, Smith and McLauchlan batted for about 2.) hours and completely cowed the howling. with Smith playing brilliant cricket to dominate the whole game. In his score of 176 not out he hit .six sixes and 22 fours, and off one over from Allen he collected .36 from four sixes and three fours. Almost as line a batting effort Was made by the captain of the Ashburton side, Cook, who scored 85 and was almost entirely responsible for his tea to avoiding a crushing defeat. At it was, the match was a draw and the Cup will he held by the South Canterbury Association. Timaru declared with one wicket down for 255 and Ashburton lmd lost nine wickets for 128 when stumps were drawn.

Ashburton’s opening gave promise of an exciting race for runs, as both Hamilton and Cook, with delightful shots, attacked the bowling from the beginning, and after about half an hour’s play 50 was on the board, most of the runs having been made by Cook. Hamilton had ' a life in the slips and soon after sent a catch to the covers off Purcell’s bowling. A feature of the stand was the running of short singles by the pair, whose speed and understanding foiled the keenness of the Timaru fielding. In the next over Todd was beaten by Smith, who had just come on, and it appeared that Timaru had a chance of victory. The chauces would have been much better if luck had been their way. Smith badly beat Cook with his second ball, Which actually hit the top of the wicket without dislodging the bails. Cook adopted a more solid style of hatting at this stage, apparently deciding to play for the draw with wickets beginning 1o fall. Alton was not so energetic as usual, and after a brief stay fell a victim to Smith.

It was the stand made by Harper and Cook that actually saved Ashburton from defeat. Purcell was bowling magnificently and seemed to be getting faster when he might have been expected to tire. But Harper and Cook defended well, and Cook took toll of any loose balls to move his score along. There was only about 20 minutes left for play when iHarper was caught behind the wickets, and soon after Biggar was run out. Then the run commenced. Cook was bowled by a beauty from Purcell, and the next three batsmen failed to score, so that four wickets fell in two overs. Timaru’s effort had come too late, and with the last man to come in, time was up. Another five minutes would probably have seen Timaru an easy winner. Scores were:

TIMARU. First Innings. McLaughlati, not out 69 Purcell, c Cook, b Biggar 1 Smith, not out ... 176 Extras ... 9 Total for one wicket (dec.) 255 Bowling; Biggar one for 85, Todd none for 22, Harper none for 15, Allen none for 83, Hamilton none for 41. ASHBURTON. First Innings. Hamilton, c Ewart, b Purcell ... 16 Todd, Ihw, b Smith ... 0 Allen, b Smith 10 Cook, b Purcell 85 Harper, c McLauclhnST, b Purcell 8 Biggar, run out 7 Burton, b Gould ... ... ... 0 Brown, b Purcell 0 Keeley, not out 0

Bansgrove, b Gould 0 Extras ... ... 2 Total for nine wickets ... 128 Bowling: Purcell four for 55, Wilson none for 28, Smith two for 30, Gould two for 13. At the tea interval .Mr A. E. Lawrence (president of the South Canterbury Cricket Association) extended a warm welcome to the Ashburton team. Mr A. L. Hudson (president of the Timaru Cricket Club) on behalf of the defenders of the Bristol Cup, joined with the president in extending a warm welcome to the Ashburton players and expressed a wish that the game, which so far had been most enjoyable, would bo one of the most successful played' between representatives of districts that have met in so many very pleasant cricket matches over a long scries of years. Mr Hudson expressed the appreciation of the cricket clubs of South Canterbury to the president of the Association and to Mrs A. E. Lawrence for the happy thought in arranging a President’s Day. Tim idea was a splendid one, because it gave the officers and officials of the club an opportunity to meet., together and enjoy what happily had so far been a match full of the sparkle that makes cricket so attractive from the spectators’ point of view. Mr R. H. Biggar (president of the Ashburton County Cricket Association) returned thanks for the warm welcome tendered the Ashburton players who had come to Timaru to try conclusions with the leading team of South Canterbury. The games for the Bristol Cup always created wide interest, because in the club competitions, the clubs not only had the incentive of striving to Win their own district competition, but they could also strive to become the challenger or defender of the Bristol Cup. The match this year has >so far been a most entertaining exhibition, and lie. hoped \ that the relationship between the two associations would always be most friendly and that many more games between teams representing Timaru and Ashburton would be played. The Bristol Cup was given in 1912 by Mr Samuel Alford Bristol for competition between the winning teams of the South Canterbury and Ashburton Cricket Associations’ competitions. The first match was not played Until 1915, in which year the trophy was won by the Timaru Club, who retained it until 1921, when it Was won by Geraldine. Since then the cup has been held by Ashburton, Celtic Zingari, Timaru, Fairfield, Star, and Old Boys. The previous holders are: 1915-21, Timaru; 1921, Geraldine; 1922, Ashburton ; 1924-25, Celtic; 1925-26, Zingari; 1926-27, Zingari; 1927-28, Celtic; 192829, Celtic; 1929-30, Timaru; 1931-32, Fairfield; 1932-33, Ashburton; 1933-34, Star; 1934.-35, Fairfield; 1935-36, not played; 1936-37, Old Beys; 1937-38, Old Boys. ASHBURTON JUNIOR GRADE. Though the junior competition of the Ashburton Cricket Association has been won by Lauriston, a final series of matches was set down for play on Saturday. An outright win was , obtained ■by Lauriston in its match against High School. Batting first High School made» 125 (N. Hosking 55, R. E. Plunkett 21) to Which Lauriston replied with 182 (H. Adams 82, H. Dalgety 40, W. Goodwin 23, J. Mackie 21). * School’s second strike produced 83 (R. E. Plunkett 53, G. Glossop 10). Lauriston had 50 runs for the loss of no wickets when time was called (Adams 33 and W. Goodwin 14). The best -bowlers for Lauriston were Adams, who took five wickets for 42 runs and five for 37, W. Goodwin three for 43-and three for 13. For High School Hosking took five for 72 and R. E. Plunkett three for 90. Tinwald beat Coldstream by default.

CANTERBURY CHAMPIONSHIP. CHRISTCHURCH, March 25. The remaining matches in the tenth round of the ‘Canterbury Cricket Association’s competition were concluded to-day. By defeating East Christchurch, Sydenham takes second place in the competition. The final position of the teums is: Old Boys 52, Sydenham 50, Lancaster Park 44, Riccarton 32, St. Albans 31, West Christchurch 23, East Christchurch 23, Old Collegians 11. The results of to-day’s matches were: Riccarton 236 and*96 for 6 (Kerr 3 for 17) beat West Christchurch 111 and 218 (.Gregory 66, Kerr 59, Fairbairn 7 for 92) by six wickets. Sydenham 64 and 187 for 6 (Gassoa 52, Davis 3 for 55) beat East Christchurch 109 and 118 by four wickets. OTAGO SEASON CLOSES. DUNEDIN, Match 26. The Dunedin cricket season ended on Saturday in brilliant weather. Carisbrook A won the premiership with 50 points, Old Boys being second with 44. Then came Albion 33, Kaikorai 32, University 25, Grange 23, Dunedin 20, Carisbrook B 0. The premier side lost its match to the runners-up, -scoring 94 and 152 (Groves five for 68) and Old Boys 182 and 65 for four wickets. Kaikorai won outright against University almost in the last minute of the day. Kaikorai scored 177 and 62 for six wickets and University 62 and 174 (Allcott seven for 87). Allcott’s seven wickets gave him a tally for the season of 51 at a cost of just over 11 runs each. Albion, 260, beat Grange, 242 and 151 for three wickets (Dey 67, Donovan 47 not out) on the first innings. Carisbrook B 319 beat Dunedin 125 (Carter five for 37) and 228 for nine (Bodgerson 82, Torrance 60; Stanley five for 104).