CRICKET.

Auckland Star, Volume XLI, Issue 272, 16 November 1910, Page 7

CRICKET.

I _ ■in,, third draw in tbe first round of Cricket Championships commenced b<S Citurday. when the batting perform- j "Jf were easily the best of the season ! ""Tta. To Anthony and Snedden goes O. honour of securing the first cenLTof the season, and it is pleasing to"" of the Plnnket Slxicld repreto SL» in form so early. Anthony ""trffte biggest total (157), but it SOS i iTraneinbered that Snedden had nr S. Graham, the well-known Vteter, and last year's captain of the frljL Eleven, was married tins and I «» sure all erietotore Jjota in congratulating the happy *&*'*■■***** *-*«"« •«*• » k « „ ftoa -Wins the toss on a hno afteri 4cch as Saturday was, and the SiSedd* to go in .to tot on a Scb Wicket, * good score may be for as something approaching a jt take Ion"- to decide that he W J?b2first the luck of the TTcm to ™y, and the side rnan!*d to teq> S o ™? Sβ 3 ™-* 5 * D OT ' bn S Xred until etanrps were drawn in the «Lr EoTspool and McCormick were •ftffrrt pair. d for ibe lhaii hour ' <*» very doyly but Ster 'that both men opened out. Hors.Lt ghowsd a great variety of strokes, Jj'jjjjj fiesly all round the wicket, scor!wmost often, with square cuts, which 2L ;t invariably ran to the boundary. •WcCormick scored lea? rapidly, and was -Las attractive an style. The separatfams effected wiben Taylor -was tried, ■jjj , JlcObnnick went back caught by Gteeson joined Horspool, hut ho never wae? really comfortaiile, aid lo also hit one of Taylor's to Brdokfi-enrith after he bad reached dwUe fignres. Horspool -was then Jry his captain. jHte still coiiEd to hit freely, but time and again rona were lost by Neall's lack of pace between tie wickets. He certainly made jm'for bis remissness in this respect by maldDg a good score before lie retired ,riih aibadlj<-bruised finger. He m lit on tho .point of the forefinger o the right tend toy a fairly fast 'ball, an. could not go on. Cummings at once tol "hini'ttat ibe might finish his innhvs 'later on if he cared to. He came at' • amin after telf-an-b.OTir's rest, but afer a° little -fl» wound .became so paiitul thait .he had to retire again, and dmBHDgs agreed that he should play hi innings ont at any time—next Satuday, if necessary- NeuPs total score w<? 50, compiled' by «low, ibut absolutely safe, •criefctt. Mason ecored a very lucky tu>, and then was cangtot Ibehoud the .ickets. Gray the luckiest batsmar of the day. Hβ was several time 3 'alpably taten Jjy the bowlers, and twoox three ia/i. strokes dropped balls ov of the reach of fielSsmen, .but he sta?d a-t tb.e iriokete long enough to seo* 36. He js a batsman who can make uns if the fowling permits, ibut he a/eared to a iweak defence «stma± gaoS. .bowling. -v'sbacklock made 40 in <&ioue style. His methods are by no 3 finished or orthodox, but neither - c *hey crude. They are bis own, and d-c°tles3 the best for Mm, and it will n<, ,b e surprising if/he makes a few ibjgf scores during th e year. ,If he choos w> hL t> he can hit hard. The six he ,oo7^— ' tne only one of the day—was P result of a terrific slam. D. flashes of hk old-time brUlian- Timing beautiifuDy, 'he'scored perfect strokes all round the •wick- Hβ eventually went down before- g length, ball from Brooke-Smdfcr , Of the Eden T«ters> the only one Who could keep ie ibatsraen quwt for nay length of mc Twas Taylor. He Jwwls a fast m"™ 1 T> ace hall, with a good length, bi lie a PP earß *° tire to ° quickly to be great service in a long innings. also ibowled above tie form of 1" season, brrt lie bas not •yet got ove-bi 3 dialike to .being (hit, and his ibowK ahways deteriorates if it ispmßshed, , - s ™™™ an d Mille both ibwled stepy 1 w* ll - Ward does not appear 00 8 * "very dangerous towler, or , ® 11 a good fieldsman. The ■batsmen put up a go»d fltepky i»lie match against University ! oa the on Saturday, recording b. total i for the Joss of eight wickets. ? score is the biggest registered ia duljrtnres for two or three seasons, i and tJoh 'the bowling was not of tho i lnost.StrnotMse type the iatting -was of ; an jTactire chaiacbex. lAaidreae and Olliffened the innings, the latter facing . Tayj'withMlieiall, With the score at 25 iiff was sent to "the pavilion, being < Wallace. He was shaping well tut i tbj' me of his dismissal. Jones joined ■; and mode a strong- partnership, t latter especially showing free cricket, iiwick and Nelson rtook up the bowling - ien the • board showed 50, and the 1 ■aiige steadied the batsmen for a time. ; adreae was easily missed by Gray when le had a few over 40 to Jiis credit but i the Utter redeemed his fault later by < tanging off a fine catch from the same - Player in the slips. Anthony filled the ] jacancy, and at once started in to punish i we bowling severely. ITie partnership j awed 140 runs to4h<? total, and Anthony i Kceived a great ovation on reachmn- his 1 «ntary. He had knocked up 113 when 3 Jones succumbed to Taylor. Sale was I »oon dismissed by leirwiek, and C'aro join- i Ug Anthony, mori vigorous batting -was < Witnessed. The pi-rtnership was respon- £ sole for. an addtionai 106 .when Ca.ro «ent Fraser's thid ball to Jacobsen, wire held it. Wrightwent in next, and in tho »Mne over Antbny ivias clean bowled by ftaser. SomeriU and Warner followed v m that order, and the score -was taken * » 405, -when .tumps were drawn ior the r Wi B

/■Anthony'snninss, which can -be-classed Jβ one of tb finest seen on the Domain tor some tite, lasted only an hour and a quarter, ai it can therefore be realised wat. lie slaved vigorous batting in comPiling 15' in that time. He hit three «s and ft'enty-one 4 - s, and he showed ttrokes '• round the wicket, his drives Special' being a treat to watch. He

gave 08 , one chance, an easy catch that »as aiSed, when he had 146 to his credit Jonea'es cautious and slow in compiling' Iμ e.fcut Caro gave a more attractiv? toy, finding the boundary ten times And&e also showed free cricket, sending Big-to the boundary and four 3's.

,yen bowlers were tried, and Frasw Kit*. "ws* successful, finishing up ££*.*** *"<**£* * four forTlnfr? Good work was some indifferent fieldin<r *** catchy being badly missed. UnlS hay %?> *■« the proposition of ?'-°KUng a, three-point defeat.

j '"When H-adden won tie toss in the Xorth Shore-Ponsonby match patrons were rather surprised at his decision , in sending the 'westerners to the wickets. It was concluded that the Shore skipper J was saving a place for Dr. Howden, but las no arrangement had Ibeen made to field a substitute Hadden apparently decided to treat Ponsonby's good, display at Eden lightly, and make an effort to secure a three-point ■win. Thas <was the first senior match of the season on Victoria Park, and the wicket was in good trim except perhaps for a rather •doubtful spot at the eastern end. Snedden and Woods faced Howden and , Hadden. The 'bowling was excellent and neither ibatsman was inclined to take , risks. Woods was not permitted to remain long, for at 5 Howden g-ot a. nice log Ibreak past him, and Ihe retired for i 3. O'Leary, a promoted junior, and of interprovincial football Same, accom- , ! panied Sneddon, and the cricket 'became I extremely slow. When his score was .'j. Pnedden ga/ve Archer a hot <4iance at slip off 'Hodden, .but he would have [ needed to lie a jJlcLaren to pet to it. fNome runs later Karquharson might 'have [ taken a hard one ifrom Howden. ibettind the stumps. \ Howden was howling a splendid length, ' and "was getting a good leg turn on, I 1 while Hidden was rocking them down ' ! merrily, and had found a soft spot from ' r which, tie ball often kicked nastily. One ' over to O'Leary the ibatsman simply could >ot touch. The latter ibatsman. ' after shaping uncomfortably to both ' foowleis, pave Hadden an easy chance at 1 square leg off Howden, and departed for • 2, Wilson filling the vacancy. With two 5 wictots down for 17 Ponsonby eeemed to ' !be in a (bad way, and Snedden taking . the responsibility on his shoulders -was r plarmg , « fine innings !for his. side. M- > though the scoring •was slow an occaßion- > al I kept interest alive. Wilson vaa ' paying Howden with the fall face of I tac Ibat, and watching Hadden's fast i <nes. ißotih men were getting confidence - md scoring ifreely. 1 • Snedden got in some pretty strokes 2 to leg off Hadden, and several .times a waiting for Howden, square cut him, 7 and placed him past Kallendar at slip very cleverly. Aicher relieved Hadden, but was unsuccessful, and later Bush took Ilia place. When the score had reached 58, Wilson, °w(ho had compiled 21 carefully, was caught off the newbowler. Kavanagh, who ihas ibeen show-; ing improved, form of late, was next, an< ■his arrival was the signal for some 'bright cricket. "With his usual vigour Ka-vanagfo. lhad the field (busy and helped Snedden to add 37 runs 'before he was ibowled hy a trimmer from Hadden, who had Teplaeed Howden. His 25 was very useful and contained 4 fours. Gavin joined Snedden, -who was piling on. the runs gradually. Hβ scored three boundaries in succession and 'brought his score to 51, and Ihe looked like seeing out rtihe innings, so soundly was he playing. Gavin, rattled up 13 in dashing style, and went at 123 for 5 wickets, Howden (bowling him. Cullimore and Snedden were then together and the runs came quickly, the former negotiating a few of Hadden's beautifully through the slips. Snedden ran "to 00 -quickly awl iritt three more fours got iwell in the seventies —160 was up in 2 (hours, and the batsmen were playing with the utmost freedom. Townshend dissolved the partnership at 189, Cnllimore having made 24 'by some pretty cricket. >Snedden was 90 when Robinson joined him, and missing the bowling for quite a long time took some time to get the necessary 10. He got 2 singles and a four, which made 96, and Hadden 'bowling again at the Gasworks end presented him first rball with a sweet four to the on, iboundary. Four iballs later bis innings terminated, Prime taking a catch at mid-off. His innings was a very fine one indeed. Wlhen the side was an a toad position he put this back to the wall and gradually turned the tide in favour of the batsmen. In the early part of his innings he had to play some fine howling from Hadden and Howden. His placing of the slow bowler to the off was a fine sight, wfhile ihis crisp strokes in front of and behind the wackxst off Hadden -were strokes that could ibe executed only by a good •batsman in first-class form. His century was made in 2 hours 50 minutes, and included 15 foura. Kobinson went next 'ball caught for 15. 8 for 219. Howden bowled White neck and crop, and secured Stevens'; wicket at 224; Cheshire, the not out (batsman, ha-ving 3 to ihis credit. Ponscmby's total was an excellent effort indeed against probably the best ibawiing team in the competition, and Shore will ■be fully extended to get a win. Howden ibowled 27 overs during the afternoon and secured 5 for CO—a very good performance. He kept a grand length and turned the ball consideTalbly. Hadden captured 3 for 61, and at the-commence-ment whirled them down at a rare ■pace. Townshend, 1 lor 23, and Bush. 1 ior 29, were the other successful trundlers. The Share team's fielding was up to a certain point excellent, but towards the end of the afternoon flagged a good deaL larquhorson and Prime opened Shore's innings at 5 minutes to 6, to the bawling of Woods and Stevens. Woods' first ball was fatal to Farquharson, the Ibatsman hitting it into Snedden's safe hands at mid-off. Woolley, a promising boy, joined Prime and played out time. Prime 'was uncomfortable to Stevens, and might liave been dismissed on two occasions had the fieldsmen been keen enough. Woods bawled 6 ovwrs for a run and a wicket. Prime 10 not out and Woolley 4 not out, resume next Saturday, when a very interesting finish should result.

SECOND GRADE. The second grade championship advanced another stage last Saturday, when the ithird series of matches were commenced. During the afternoon Waitemata reached the third eenturyat Devonport, and Eden B put up 224 on their own ground against Grafton. Cricketers greatly appreciate the services of those gentlemen who give up their Saturday afternoons to umpire. In conversation with a couple of them, they informed mc that it had given them great pleasure to officiate in second grade maitches recently, as every courtesy had been extended by the captains, and players of both sides, even when the decision had not been quite what was expected on an appeal being made. Further, they remarked, we do not consider ourselves infallible, but give our decisions to the best of our ability, and when we do make a mistake we are exceedingly sorry for it, especially when it affects such a fine body of sportsmen.

Over at Devonport the home team were in the field nearly the whole afternoon, and their opponents succeeded in registering the substantial total of 300 runs. Young and Riddell were the chief factors in bringing about this happy

state of affairs, which is all the more flattering after the disappointing exhibition against Parnell in the previous match. The pair fairly collared the bowling and scored freely all_round the wicket. MoDer finished up with top score (86), while Young was responsible for 73 before McNeill upset his timber yard. C. Moller followed up with 34, not out, compiled in good style.

McNeill (six for 94) did the bulk of the trundling for North Shore, and hia figures might have read better had the fielding been better. When the bell rang the home team had lost one wicket for 34, Wilson 27, not out, being the chief contributor. Eden A and University occupied the senior wicket on the Domain. The students had first hand, but the start was not of a very encouraging nature. Moore and OixJughlin stopped the rot, and the innings wound up for 134. The chief feature of the innings was the defence of Moore, who went in first* and remained at the wickets throughout for 32, not out O'Loughlin (44) hit hard and often, boundaries being quite common. Eden tried nine bowlers during the afternoon and changes were frequent, when Moore and O'Loughlin were associated. G. Alexander (three for 18) and Gilmour (two for 28) bowled well and consistently, the latter sending down some excellent stxiff. Eden opened their first innings badly, but Francis and Alexander got set and put the score in a more hopeful state before stumps wtre drawn. University bowling appeared to lack sting although runs were not scored very freely.

On the Domain, Ponsonby did not appear "to gain any advantage by ticking firat innings against Parnell. although the wicket afforded the bowlers no assistance, and they were all out for one short of the first century. Jackson (24) was going well until Doble scattered his bails. Resteaux (£ve ior 30) bowled uncommonly well, keeping a fine length and turning mostly from the off. Doble accounted for four wickets for 27 runs. When play ceased for the day Parnell had lost four wickets for 90, so should have little difficulty in checking Ponsonhy's unbeaten Tecord. Sale (36, not out) plodded along steadily, but, considering the quality of some of Ponsonby's bowling, should have had a greater score to his credit.

At Eden Park, the local captain won the toss and sent Grafton into the field. The start was not very promising; however, Robinson and Somervell cemented a partnership that laid the foundation of a good score. The ex-Graftonite topped the list with 59. He opened quietly but played with more freedom as the game progressed. Included in his score were nine boundaries. Somervell (34) started luckily, but afterward showed good form. S. Mills (28) was going nicely when dismissed by a good catch on the boundary. .Beale batted steadily for 20, not oat, but had a life at the wickets.

So lax Grafton have lost three ■wickets for 80. Eev. Bjeeve notching 32, not out, in good style, including one six.

Harvey bowled exceedingly well, capturing six -wicketa for 62, besides having a couple of chances missed off his bowling.

Playing in the third grade competitions Plnnrmer, of the Ponsonby 111. eleven, put np a fine bowling performance against 'Varsity, eecuring, six wickets for no runs, following it up by getting five wickets for 5 runs against North Shore on Saturday.

SCHOOL. 2XOTES. At the Shore Devonport added another to their list of victories, defeating Beresford by 95 runs on the first innings, though they used only three wickets in making their runs. Beresford must be congratulated on it-heir total of 91 runs, the best score put up against Devonport for some time. R. Skeen 16, Patterson 18, and Murphy 14 did '-well against Shore's bowling. W Condon was out lbw 'before he 'had a chance Ho get going in ihis usual style. For Shore L. Dacre made 111, and was then run. out, while Colebourne's 66 not out were obtained in capital style. After batting tlrroughoiit the innings of 186 runs (all run out), Colebounie went on (to bowl, and captured five wickets for 22 runs —a very creditable performance. Dacre is rapidly coming to the front as a batsman, and shows tbe benefit of his coaching; his off-etrokee are very like €hose of his new coach. Dacre followed np fri« 111 morning score iwith 129 for the third grade B team in the afternoon, a rather unique performance. It speaks well for the standard of school cricket.

Playing for Pitt-etreet against Napierstreet, Earily put up another fine performance, both with the bat and ball. He took six "wickets for 15 runs, and then rattled xrp 130 runs not out. He has two good strokes in his off-drive, and hook to the on. Every bail well up is driven, while all others are forced round to the leg eide in a clever manner.

White again scored in fine style for Normal, getting 28 not out and 54.

11. Fletcher (Edendale), who ihas been doing so well wrbh the ball during the ■whole round, got two grand scores of 3S and 35, 'being well supported toy his bother. Edendale> 'has beaten each, term in their grade this round, and aft. present axe the best team in it, though 41iey can now only get second 1 place.

The B grade is now over, Pitt-street ibeing first with 17 poinits.

Newmarket ftia»ve won ijjhe C grade, (with 16 points.

There are two "matches left in the A grade, and though Devonport are 10 points ahead, the competition for second place is very keen between five teams.

A couple of habile amongst members of some teams need correcting. Some bowlers »nd ■wickjet-keepers, instead of calling "How Sβ it?" yell out "'Out," and often a ttamid "boy : nmpiring is not given a chance to decide for himself. The ofiier is ihe taking of a run .when. a boy is ran out or caught out (on, a single run) ground that the boys crossed.

The matribes and grounds for Saturday are: —Devanporfc v. Ponsonby, aft Deronport; N. East v. Mt. Eden, at Domain; Beresford v, Bichmond, at Domain; Parnell v. N. Weet, at Domainj Edendlde v. EELersKe, at Domain. On Sat7irday week, « team representing the B gradfi isall play -a team from the C-grade.