CRICKET.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIV, Issue 89, 15 April 1913, Page 8

CRICKET.

" On Saturday, with the conclusion of the matoh between an Auckland eleven and a colts' fifteen, the curtain was rung down for the season on senior cricket in Auckland, and. there remains now only the inquests that linger long after the actual aicidents of the game. The Eleven v. Colts game Avas a draw, the former making 303 for eight wickets before declaring, and the latter losing twelve Avickets for 158, but saving the actual loss by struggling on till time was called. When starting time came the Eleven, who had eight wickets down for 284, was represented by only four or five men, and Tattersall and Jackson (virtually colts themselves) held the fort till sufficient of the Eleven came on the scene to make a presentable fielding team. Incidentally, too, they raised the total to 303 without further loss. Sale assumed command, in the absence of Hemus, and applied the closure to the innings, and the Colts started in to demonstrate their quality. Unfortunately, they, in most instances, demonstrated their youngness rather than their batting ability, for the majority of them Avere unsteady and over-anxious, with the result that they trotted out their scoring strokes for exhibition during the first over, Avhat time seasoned batsmen are usually busy getting into touch with the pace of the" wicket, the tricks of tlie bowlers, and the surroundings generally. The faidt is a characteristic of young batsmen on their first A*isit to senior surroundings, and happens every timo everywhere in similar conditions. It is only mentioned here to explain that 158 «iuns do not truly represent the ability of the thirteen batsmen who made them. Had there been a second innings, the same thirteen would probably have put on 258 against the same bowling. Breese Avas the bright particular star of the Colts, and in this and other innings during the season he has demonstrated that he is out of his class in the juniors. Naturally of a free, confident style, he made his runs, faultlessly and equally well on both sides of the wicket. He has one stroke in the slips, which can be approached only by Hemus, in the seniors, for accuracy. It is a shot between second and third man, and he brings it off repeatedly, with the crispness and accuracy of a veteran batsman. When Sommervell was sending down short-pitched stuff, that came through, fast to the off and was rising art times more than waist high, Breese went at it, and cut it to and past third man time and again. It is a daring stroke even for the experienced batsman, but he never made a mistake with it. His 47 might easily have gone to a century had he not been run out. Tempeton was the only other batsman to get properly into the collar. He is rather a.stylish batsman, and makes his strokes cleanly, while he is apparently •of the -temperament that is not easily bustled. He uses his reaches well in playing forward to the pitch of the ball, but i 3 inclined to overdo the forward stroke, and occasionally stands back and plays it without watching the ball all the way. Murdoch and Moore, particularly the former, showed that they have the equipment of good batsmen, but both made the error of opening out before they were right in tune with the pace of the wicket. Haase showed more promise than either of them, but fell a victim to the mistake of not getting well over and smothering a ball that he was uncertain about, with the result that a catch went iip to the infield. Young swung the bat with all the vigour of a <free batsman with a long reach, and he kept scoring till he tried to tinker with a fast-rising off-ball, and gave fine slip the chance he was looking for. Stainton came in at" the last minute to fill a vacancy, and by virtue of being able to get Sommervell's fast off-stuff away safely, he Tan into double figures in a couple of overs before the call came for time. Throughout the innings it Avas the rising off-balls from Sommervell and the pace and break ichanges rung in by Tavlor that troubled the colts most. With TatteTsall taking the ball well and on the jump for the bails all the time, the batsmen Avere tied to the crease when their hearts went out in a consuming desire to whang Taylor over the fence, but three Avho ventured had their lives cut short Avith flying bails, and these horrid examples assisted • the bowler's average by keeping the others quiet Avhen they might have whanged with prudence, pleasure and profit. Thus it was that Taylor got the average of five for 34. The final of the Churches' Association championship, between V.M.C.A. and St. Peter's, is not a two-day match, but a fight to a finish", and will be continued, and probably concluded, at Victoria Park on Saturday, when St. Peter's, in their second innings, will endeavour to wipe off the deficit of runs on the first innings, and to make a mere nothing of the little matter,of 263 put up by V.M.C.A. in their last try. By the Devonport School having a bvelast Saturday, and the last match of the season being postponed, Cis Dacre, the schoolboy cricketer, has lost his chance of making .1,500 runs for the season, as his total to date.is 1,464. In a school matoh last week, Cadet Company against Cadet Company, he scored 88, and 104, not out, which is not included in the above. PARNELL D.C.C. FOURTH GRAD"E AVERAGES. Matches played, 12: won. 8; drawn, 1: lost, 3. 'Points for, 19; against, 6. Championship points, 13. BATTING. I. N.O. H.S. Ass. Avg. H. SlmpsoD ..10 1 87* 200 33.22 A. Austin G 3 32* VI 32.33 A. Gedye 15 2 105* 420 :_.30 C. Clofee 10 2 64* 251 31.37 Cranswlck ... 11 3 52 104 24.25 O. Bay 14 1 36 100 12.23 R. Dingle 11 2 22 !)T 10.77 C. Badeley ..14 2 24 l_t 10.25 V. Badeley .. S 2 12 SS 6.33 W. Rich 10 1 13 49 5.44 Harrison .... 0 1 11* 43 5.37 Also hatted: R. Ell lip and C. Hammond. * Signifies not out. BOWLING. AY. R. Avg. C. Badeley 10 5!) 5.00 C. Hammond 8 48 COO A. Gedye 10 71 7.10 Harrison <•■ 14 102 7.28 R.. Dingle 40 800 s!iX) AY. Rich 13 no 8.02 Austin v 134 12.18 H. Simpson 20 370 12.75 C. Cranswlck 2 OS 34.00 Also bowled: O. Bay and Cloke. Runs scored for team, 2,092 for 101 wickets; average per man, 20.11. Runs scored against team 1,571 lor 135 wickets; average per man, ILC3. PUBLIC SCHOOLS CRICKET. Owing to the majority of the wickets in the Domain being unavailable for Saturday morning next, matches in the A grade will be postponed, while the B and C grades will continue as usual. The following are the fixtures and grounds for Saturday next, April 10th :— Beresford Street .v. Normal (A'B|toria Park); Napier Street v. Bayfield fVictoria Park); Newton West v. Mount Albert (Victoria Park); Marist Bros. v.. Nelson Street (Victoria Park).: C Grade. — Epsom .v. Newmarket (Domain); Edendale v. Ellerslio (Domain); Maungawhau v s Stanley Bay (Victoria

WEDNESDAY CRICKET. CHAMPIONSHIP -FINAL. The - final of "the Wednesday Association's championship will be played on the North Shore ground to-morrow, between Bakers and Karangahake team. There was some doubt about the respective positions of the two teams, though the Bakers appeared to have the lead. It was, however, decided by the Association that Karangahake and Bakers should play off. The following Avill represent the Bakers: — A. Osborne, A. Warner, W. Farrant, R. Moffatt, G. Searle, A. Home, S. Menzies, AY. Coates, A. Ball, B. Waddell, G. Greenwood; 12th man, Delaney.