CRICKET.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVIII, Issue 245, 13 October 1917, Page 14

CRICKET.

In a match of small scores but many exciting incidents at Winchester on Saturday, June 30, Eton won on the first- innings by 7 runs (99 against 92). It was a great struggle. Winchester tried to snatch a victory aftei*he first innings margin had been scored against them, but they never looked like succeeding. Three hours remained for play, and Winchester were perhaps not without hope of forcing a win after all. When they went in for the second time, •however, the Eton bowling was so steady and the fielding so good that runs did not come fast enough to suggest the possibility of victory. When eight wickets had fallen for 77 Winchester declared. Eton required 71, and 58 had been scored for three wickets when stumps were pulled up. The low scoring reflected little or no discredit on the batsmen, rain having considerably damaged the ground. At the start the pitch was soft, and at no time did it favour run-getting. One performance alone was sufficient to make the game memorable, Firth, the Winchester bowler, taking all 10 wickets in Eton's first innings. Firth, in doing so much and yet finding himself on the losing =ide. was clearly entitled to sympathy. His success followed a piece of bowling on his part almost equally good—eight wickets for 48 against Harrow nine days before. Prom the start Firth bowled admirably. He varied his pace with great skill, and his length was irreproachable. More than that, he often made the ball swing in rather a disconcerting fashion. In taking all the 10 wickets Firth, one understands, set up a record for Winchester. He kept his form right through the innings, and only 41 runs were hit from hnn. Firth did not bowl in Eton's second' innings.