CRICKET.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIV, Issue 34, 8 February 1913, Page 16

CRICKET.

At fcherJast meeting of the X.Z. Cricket Council it was decided to adopt the Marylebone Crwfeet Club's new rule that no trial balls should be permitted in any match.

In connection with Sandman's big hit on the Domain in the recent Plunket Shield match, which was measured at 120 yards, it is interesting to note that E. Jones, the fast bowler of the Australian eleven of 1902, playing against an eleven of Scotland, hit v ball 152| yards from hit to pitch.

Playing in a country match in New South Wales the other day, T. Jjttlewood was responsible for a remarkable bowling feat. It was the last over of the day. He bowled two men with the first two balls, the third was not scored off, and three more batsmen were bowled with the remaining three —five wickets (including the hat trick) for no runs off six balls.

"Wellington has treated Otago disgracefully," said a prominent committceman at the meeting of the.Otago Association the other night, and, Red Indianlike, the others grunted assent.. Frankly, Wellington has not '"played the game," certainly not by Otago, ■whom tbey -are due four visits to one. Somewhere back in the dark ages a Wellington cricket team did deign to visit Dunedin, ibut "the oldest inhabitant" died the other day and took the secret with him. Still we are not without hope now that Wellington has had its Plunket Shield les?on Q team will be sent to Dunedin this season, even if only to show us how Wellington should have beaten Auckland. — Exchange.

Writing of Victor Trumper's inn'ngs for N.S.W. against Victoria, a Sydney writer Useful and admirable as was the partnership of Matthews and Armstrong for Victoria, it was as barley water to champagne compared with Unit of Trnmper and Barbour. The latter pair played most delightful cricket from whatever standpoint you upproa-ch tneir display. Tnrmper -was m-agnifieent. It is not a matter for surprise when Victor I Trumper makes a century, nor for him to make it when it is most wanted. His whole cricket career shows him to have been cut out for big performances and for great occasions. Ho has niad-e six centuries in all against Victoria, including one memorable innings of 230 runs, but there was something very impressive about his latest. It was not truly Truinperiau in that it showed little of the old daring and "abandon," and liltle of his former light-hearted treatment of the bowling, but it was eminently sounder, and engendered more confidence than formerly, without any loss of pol-j ish, ease, or elegance. It was, in short, an ideal specimen of perfect batsman-1 ship, in which was displayed not only) perfection of stroke play, but also per-1 fection in judgment in its employment, j That is why this one of many centuries is so noteworthy an innings, for it shows, the maturity of Truniper's skill, and the) champion to 'be, in consequence, an even greater batsman than ever before. JUNIOR NOTES. Grafton A and Eden B. who art nn level terms in the competition with one point apiece, met on the old Eden ground. The feature of Graiton's 240 was 107 not out by J. Baiker, the well-1 known Auckland and Wellington hockey ; representative player. G ing in at a'cxiti- ! cal stage of thegame.when his side had four wickets down for 45, he assisted to add almost 200 to the total. Baker is a forcing bat, but last Saturday there was very little evidence of wild hitting. His best stroke was one past cover, which sent the ball to the boundary like lightning. He skied a ball in the direction of square leg, after passing the half century, but the sun caused the fieldsman to lose sight of it. When the last Grafton .bastman came to the wickets, Baker required nine runs to reach the coveted century, but it was accomplished without difficulty. Richards (18) including a six, and Lopine (19) were the next principal scorers. Greenwood, five for 59, was Eden's chief trundlex. He kept a good length, and swung with the breeze. Before stumps were drawn Eden knocked 86 for the' loss of four wickets. Burton put his I runs together in a quiet manner, and ' when appeared to have settled down was snapped up at the wickets by Lepine. Brown was going nicely when I Bridges, fielding substitute, took a good catch in the outfield. Mills has 14 not out to his credit. Haresnope's "slow-, uns" realised four for 28. '

Both Graiton B and Paraell were dis- ' posed of in the afternoon at the Domain. Grafton B compiled 85 while Parnell were all out for 139. Grafton hatted first and made a much better start than usual, although there were no big scores, but the tail failing and being too short, the total was not very promising against a team of the calibre of Parnell. Breeze two for 7, and Doble three for 18, did the trundling Jor Par- i nell. I

Parnell were even in a worse position than Graiton at one stage of the game. They lost their opening pair before either had opened his account. With seven wickets down and the score in the vicinity, it looked as if Parnell would not overhaul Grafton's small total, but thanks to some faulty catching, they recovered and left Grafton with a deficit of 54 runs. Breese 31 was the first to be instrumental in saving the situation, then Dow knocked up 40, but his innings was seasoned with a spice of good fortune. Mann failed to keep up his reputation with the ball, but however, he made amends with the bat, collecting 28 when runs were extremely scarce. Norton bagged four wickets for 34 with fast stuff, 'but Lewis, two for 7, coming on at the finish, secured the best figures.

The second round of the district championship imOiU'hro was commenced on Saturday under imost favourable conditions. The -wickets were in excellent order, and conducive to Ugh scoring. Tine match between Eden A and Waite-mait-a attracted considerable attention, and was keenly contested throughout. The strawberry-planters took first strike on a good wicket, but the opening batsmen seemed to find difficulty in getting the pace of the pitch, with the result that they lost three for a moderate total. The advent of the Bros, changed <lihe state of the game completely, and, favoured with good fortune while" they were at the wickete. the Edenites were kept singularly busyBoundary after 'boundary followed in qnick succession,, ibhe A's bowling being

most erratic, and it fe difficult to understand wiy regular bowlere like Haas© and Murray were not given an opportunity to dissolve the Moller partnership. To sum up the WaHemata baitting display would be to write it down as moderate. There was a lack of ent^- ,- priee about the whole display, —Moller Bros, excepted, and the ba.ts.men seemed to be continually waiting for something tiuit didif.t come. C. Moller (42) played the best cricket for his side. His defence was sound, while at ithe same time 'he did not forget to ipunieh the " ehort stuff," of which there was an unusual amount. K. Moller (61) was little if anything inferior to his 'brother. He deserves ccmswieraible commendation for the manner in which he faced the situation (three for 22), and the hitting tactics which he adopted. His beet etrokee were the pull to leg and 'his leg-hitting. Of the other batsmen, Tcmpleton created a very favourable impression- Forward his play is remarkably clean and well judged, while he also exhibited good defence. Teanplefton should prove decidedly useful to the team.

With a total of 180 to fa-oe, McJjaiughlin, the centurion, a.nd Harm faced Aγblaster and >loller. 'lUie batsmen were coon in trouble, the former getting in front of a straight one from Moller which made pace from the pitch. Harris failed to negotiate a break-bock from Arblaster, and retired for a moderate 2. The worst, however, had not yet come. Murray encroached on the bowler'e preserves, and retired l.b.w. Gilmour was caught almost immediately, after obtaining a single. Four wiicketd for 6 runs. Haase was then joined by Punch, and a fine partnership ensued. The lefthander stonewalled with excellent effect, while Punch, who had evidently neolved

" to do or die," cart, care to the winds, and went boundary hunting- Mort of hin> strokes were clean and hard, althougih -a tendency to uppishness prevailed, and as a result, just on. call of time, he had paid puit to his account for a forceful 46.

The match is still very open, as the A'e have several good iba.U to draw on.

A peculiar incident occurred in the opening stage of this match which should make a lasting impression on young cricketers. The Eden skipper, Horspooi, called upon Alexander, who was playing in dark trousers, to bowl. The latter almost immediately scattered Ma.ya.ll s stumps. The Waitemata skipper then requested—and a very rca.sonu.ble re qiH»t it wae —that ithe bowler s-hould put on white tro-ueere, <so that his ami action could be observed. The Edenitcreadily complied, and the roa-tter ended. Lt ls, however, most disconcerting to a batsman to find the dark background interfering with hie sight of the bowler's

In the Churches A-sociation competition, V.M.C.A. are leading by 5 points in the senior championship," with two matches still to play.