CRICKET.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 51, 29 February 1916, Page 8

CRICKET.

The senior games in Aifeklaaid on Saturday turned out tote particularly interesting in their several ways, and each, provided its own particular excitement for the last hour of play. On the Domain, Grafton faced the tremendous task of making 170 in CO minutes to avert defeat, but they managed only 92 in that time, and had to accept second place to University on the game. At Eden Park things ■wont well for the 'home team, hut in the final Jiour of the day it was an exciting race against time with Eden out to dispose of Parnell twice in the afternoon, avid so get the three-point win. They managed it, with three minutes or bo to spare. The problem that was worked out at the -wickets on Victoria , Park betwecn-S p.m. and b p.m. was whether or not the North Shore bowlers would make a clear win for their side by getting Ponsonby out in the time, or whether Ponsonby would hold the position till the fall of might, and so keep their proud record for the season innocent of the blot of one defeat. The bowlers won. The results give a fillip of interest again to the competition, for Ponsoaiby's apparently unassailable position a fortnight ngo has, through Saturday's defeat, developed a weakness that pute Eden once more in the position of a serious rival for the championship honours. Should both Ponsonby and Eden beat their respective opponents, making equally winning points from now on, it will once more be a serious battle for the championship when they meet ogam, with Ponsonby holding the advantage of a sufficient lead to give them a tie in the cane of their being defeated juet on the first iniiinge. The points arc:— Clip. Pld. W. h. D. Its. . Tnnsonby 0 r> 1 — 11 ' Eden C, 4 i i T Grafton (1 a 3 1 —2 Norjth Sl.oro (i 2 4 — —f> University 0 2 4 — —3 Parnell 6 2 4 — —6 THE LEADERS GO DOWN. Several critics predicted a fortnight ago when North Shore knocked up 300 against Ponsonby that, given a fine day for the continuation, tlic leaders in the competition would meet with defeat. And it was bo. The match was proof that Ponsonby's chief strength lies in its possessing a wonderfully effective bowling combination. By the spin of the coin Shore were fortunate enough to get the Ponsonby bowlers to pluy under conditions that were heart-break-ing for bowlers—the ball slippery and the wicket just wet enough on top to malco an} , chance of a break hopeless. Against this, when the Ponsonby batting turn came the "\viekot and outfield were dry, and though it was a good batting wicket, it was also a wicket with some life in it, and one that would take spin, giving a good bowler a chance. When the conditions hare been allowed for, however, it must be admitted that Norths Shore took,, their . opportunity boldly and made the most of it despite a gallant effort by Pwnsonby to pull through. When the tenth North Shore wicket had been tried out on Saturday, the score 'was left at 300. It is not a partiewlarly largo score to hit up when nothing hangs to' it. but when it has to be maile to avert defeat, mid even 305 runs won't do, so that the batsman has every run on his mind, it assumes very much larger proportions. The only real doubts occasioned North Shore's supporters about the ability of Ponsonby to make the runs came when Smith and Taylor were together for the Sfcon.l wicket. Before settling down each of them gave a chance, Smith in the slips and Taylor .it micl-off, where Sale didn't happen to be, for he was on thte occasion relieving behind the wickets. Thereafter both batsmen settled down to smooth, steady cricket, Taylor's fine driving being a treat, while Smith scorec steadily with well-timed leg shots or ondrives, getting a lot of power into his whenever the ball to hit came •along. Both of them looked set for the century, ■ when Smith at 70 mistimed a hanging ball that he jumped at to hit over the boundary, nnil was caught well out near the chalk-line. Very shortly afterwards Taylor (05) also went to t;ie pavilion as the result of a catch in the slips. There were then 157 runs up for three wickets, and it was a critical time for Ponsonby, for the ftsur practically depended then on Worker and Mason, now together, getting going. It was not to be, however, for Howden, who had been bowling particularly well, got Mason leg before when the batsman had made only a single—four for 1 158. From this point onwards the Ponsonby men settled down to play for the draw on time, with less than two hours to go and six wickets in hand. North Short at the same time redoubled their efforts,' and Howden cased the position for them considerably by bowling Cotterall and getting Worker caught at the wicket. Murphy and Morris made a stubborn effort to keep the flag flying, but Dacro had a spell of success with the ball, getting Murphy, Moore, and Morris in quick succession. Then it was up to McMath and Robinson, with thirty minutes to go, and they batted stubbornly for a-quarter of an hour, both getting into double figures, when Arblaeter, ivho had taken the ball from Dacre, clean bowled McMath, and Shore got the win with 63 runs and fifteen minutes to spars. EDEN'S FIRST THREE-POINTER. " The same conditions that had such n. strong bearing on Ponsonby'a defeat operated to give Eden a three-point win against Parnell. With 255 up for six wickets the first day, Eden finished their innings very suddenly on Saturday, the side being out for 299, Hemus being responsible for the majority of the added runs. Breese and Daw gave Parncll a good start by putting on the first half-century quickly. At that stage, however, Taylor, who had been somewhat unlucky all the season with his bowling, showed some of his old-time form with the ball, and disposed of Breese, Carlton, Moller, Doble, and Flatt in quick succession. Blair and Heighway also proved successful/bowlers, and Parnell's first innings closed'for 100. Following on, Parnell's lost-wicket colts, Horepool and Golgoski, knocked the edge off the bowling of Taylor and Heighway, but when Hemus and Shepherd were given the ball a change came over the scene, and the latter got four quick wickets that put Parnell again on the collapse. " In the last half-hour, however, Parnel'l had the hard wickets of Hunt, Breese, Daw, and Doble in 'hand, and it looked' like a disappointment for Eden so far as the three-point win wns concerned. Another bowling change, however, again proved effective, and Blair and Sauverja

(lid the trick, Brcese being caught at the wicket almost on call of time, with the eeore at 126. i A feature of the day's play was the f fact that every successive change made 1 throughout the afternoon in Eden's bowl- - ing proved effective. l UNIVERSITY HOLD OUT. 3 University managed to hold their first 7 innings - advantage over Graf ton on Sat- - urday by lighting out for two hours in t their second innings, making 144, and 2 thus leaving Grafton 232 to do it in in c less than 120 minutes to do it in in b order to get a win. Although Haresnape 1 bowled particularly well for Grafton, 3 and polished off the tail of the Varsity i eleven in quick order, Caradus (41), - Perry (40), and Winks (31 not out) held 5 him off. long enough to make the afore- , said difficult proposition for Grafton. i The Graftonians made 155 runs in the i time, and failed, though R. Sloman (77, t not out), and Beveridge (38), gave the I University bowlers some uneasy mo- , ments. Beveridge took risks to make , runs, but Sloman played fine hard cricket . throughout, without giving a chance, and another twenty Tninutes or less would ; ! probably have seen him get the century. i j P n ig° o rsit y won on th o first innings, 269 i SECOND GRADE GAMES. ■ The sixth round of the second grade . j competition was brought to a conclusion ;, last Saturday in fine weather, but as the ; j result of each match was never in doubt ■ the days cricket was not very interest- , ing. I.M.C.A. continued their succession f ot victories at the expense of Eden B i and they now have six wins to their i credit without a single defeat. Grammar School easily defeated Ponsonby at Victoria Park, while Brotherhood overwhelmed University at the Domain. In each instance a three-point win was recorded. The following table shows the positions of the teams at the end of the sixth round:— , Pl.vd. Won. Lost. Points. Brotherhood f, 5 q 13 Grammar School.. r> 4 1 0 Kden A 5 4 7 ? • g»m«I « 4 2 7 ) Jonsonby 5 1 4 _ 6 , J'-'len B 0 2 4 _o Kliiß's College :i 0 3—o '■ University 0 j r .. . Sacred Heart .... v 0 ij —18 1 EDEX B V. V.51.C.A. ; Eden B and Y.Jr.C.A. resumed their match at Eden Park on a fast wicket that played truly all the afternoon. At • .the end of the first day's play Eden's position was hopeless, and it was only a 1 question of would succeed ' in frustrating their opponents' efforts to secure three points. This they were unable to do, although in knocking up a total of Ifl4 in their second innings they must be given credit for a determined showing. With three wickets down for 181, I. Cooper and C. Edmond resumed for V.M.C.A., and immediately commenced to attack the bowling, Edmond in particular being most aggressive. Cooper soon ran to his century, but he did not bat so confidently as he did on the first day. and had two or three narrow escapes. His Imttiug, however, was easily the most finished and stylish of his side. His total of 112 not out included sixteen fours and one six. Edmond (59 not out) hit with marked effect, although his play was not as elegant as that of his partner. None of the bowlers troubled him, and he was equally partial to balls on the leg side as to those on the off. Forty of his total of 59 came in boundary hits. With three wickets down for 278, V.M.C.A. declared, and Eden commenced 1 their second innings 100 runs behind. Ward and Dixon gave their side a good start, and appeared set when Cullimore rather unexpectedly bowled Ward. The later batted very freely, and again showed a distinct liking for the off. Dixon. (22) was in for a. fair time, and brought off a couple of nice leg hits, but his defence does not give the impression of safety. He was dismissed as the result of a remarkable effort on the part of the wickctkeeper. Gillcspio (28) and Cox (33) both gave a lot of trouble, as their defence was very sound. Gillespic, although only a boy, never lookeel like getting out, and is a distinctly promising bat. Cox was very good on the leg side. Y-M.CA.'s bowling cannot be called strong, as is clearly evidenced by the difficulty they experienced in getting rid of their opponents a second time. The bowling appears to be too monotonous, and their only alow leg-break bowler has no control over length, probably due to the fact that he attempts to put too much variety into his deliveries. V.M.C.A only required five runs for a straight-out victory, and they ran out easy winners by ten wickets. PONSONBY V. GRAMMAR SCHOOL. Ponsonby gave a very poor exhibition of cricket against Grammar School, and arc evidently not half the team they were a couple of seasons back. Each Saturday they have now to rely on third grade players, and tho fact that they have been short on occasions docs not tend to improve their displays. In their last match with the Grammarians they were outplayed and defeated by an innings and 51 runs. With 156 runs on the board for the loss of seven wickets Grammar School resumed batting, and the total had reached 229 before the last wicket fell, a lead of 141 on the first innings. Whclan increased his not out score of 26 to 39, while Gallahcr (20) also helped to swell the total. Ponsonby's second effort was on a par with their first, and a total of 90 was the best they could put forth, Lang (21) being the only batsman to make a showing. Baddeley (five for 15) had a day out. in the bowling line, while Garrard (five for 46) again added to his already lengthy list of victims. Grammar School's match with Eden A next Saturday should produce a good contest, as writer is of opinion that neither team has as yet this season given of its best. UNIVERSITY V. BROTHERHOOD. .University and Brotherhood continued their match at the Domain, but owing to the one-sided nature of the game and the fact that 'Varsity again put half a team into the field, very little interest was taken in the game. Brotherhood, with an evident desire to obtain a little practice, continued batting, and after adding another sixty runs declared with the total at 356 for the loss of eight wickets. Coates and- Menzies were the chief contributors, the latter paying very littlo respect to the weak bowling. University cut a sorry figure in their innings, and, with six men jjhort, were dismissed for 20, Smith being the only donile-figure scorer. Coates' bowling

proved altogether too much for "Varsity, especially as the wicket was not wearing well, and all the wickets fell to him. The match was finished off before four o'clock, and resulted in a win for Brotherhood by an innings and 316 runs. PUBLIC SCHOOLS' CRICKET, ! _ The following are the arrangements for Satnrday; next, 'March 4:— [ A GRADE. V iDevonport v. Itemuera.—At Domain. Newton East v. Alt. Eden.—'At Domain. Mt. Albert v, Vermont Street.—At Victoria Park. Edendale v. Eichmoud .Road. At Domain. •Normal, a bye. * B GRADE. Bayfleld v. 'Newton West.—lit Victoria '■ Park. Grey Lynn t. (Maungawhau.—At Domain. , Kapler Street v. Grafton.—At Victoria Bpaom T.- Eeresford Street.—At Domain. C GRADiE. Northcote v. Edendale.—At Victoria Park Pa N rk" market V ' U? ° lDt cheTall er—At Eden Takapuna t. Victoria Park Stanley Bay v. Avondale.-At Eden Park.