CRICKET.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIX, Issue 57, 23 February 1918, Page 14

CRICKET.

Private information from Christchurch is to- the effect that the Christchurch Boys' High School is unlikely to challenge the Auckland Grammar School for the Heathcote-Williams Shield this year, as it is their intention to endeavour to arrange an annual heme-and-home match with Grammar - School, getting the Aucklanders to go to Christchurch next Christmas.

JUNIOR NOTES.

COMPETITION CONDITIONS CHANGED.

On account of the Christmas vacation Grammar School, King's College, and Sacred Heart find it necessary to suspend their engagements each season during that time. Each year a certain amount of complications accrue, and this year matters became more difficult through .'Grammar School having to drop another imatch on account of. the HeathcotejWjlliams' fixture. Now there is no time iavailable to complete the games suspended, so the Association, after due conjsideration, has decided; to divide the Competition into two Sections. Eden, iSormal, Ponsonby and Parnell will catnip/rise the flit, while Grammar, King's JCpllege, Sacred Heart and University (if • possible) will be found in the next secjtion. i lAll matches in which the now first and (Second sections have taken part prior to jthe alteration will not count, neither will !the extra games between Eden and Ponsonby and Parnell and Normal. So far as can be ascertained, under the new regime Eden'are at the head of the list : with eight points. Normal follow with Six. Pongonby are three points, while the Parnell tally is minus three.

GRAMMAR SCHOOL V. EDEN.

A keen and interesting struggle for runs ensued from the start of the day's play in the Grammar and Eden match, and, contrary to expectations, the collegians just succeeded in accomplishing their big task of surpassing Eden's total of 229 to the extent of a couple of runs. With two wickets down for 25, Grammar's prospects were not very bright, but at the fall of the next wicket, at 101, the register had a more wholesome appearance. The fourth wicket fell without 'alteration, the fifth and'sixth added 32 and 43 respectively, and once again a wicket fell without change, making seven wickets "down for 174. * ' Then the I)§T;o~'vvih. An eighth-wicket partnership brought up the second century;- . Thirty runs were still wanted when the ninth wicket fell at 216. When the last batsman took strike both teams were • very eager, but, after the- survival of a legbefore appeal, the boys topped Eden's substantial total. ''

Kelly (56) held up his end in a determined manner, as his strokes, will Show. He only hit three fours and two threes, while he made, no less than- 21 singles. McLeod "(46) • played aggressively at anything' tempting, and 7 landed three sixes and four fours, mostly to leg. . '-" !

Metge (40) played steadily, and between times notched four boundaries. Nixon (24) scored half his runs through the four agency. Morrison (24) was inclined to be aggressive. Stretton, who started on the first day, increased his quota to 19.

The howling figures for Eden were not available. Gillespie and Rankin secured three wickets each. Kent obtained a couple, while Gasparrch accounted for one on the first day.

KING'S V. NORMAL.

Batting on a wicket that had made a good recovery from the soaking on the previous night, King's College only managed to compile 53 runs. Although the bowlers were able to extract plenty of "turn," the wicket was by no means so dangerous as it appeared. Charters (12) wa 8 the chief contributor for King's. A left-hander, he pulled everything, and, after treating Murdoch in this manner to two fours, the exGraftonite clean bowled hrm in attempting to repeat the dose. The remainder of the side were accorded similar treatment.

King's College found Arneil and Murdoch too great a proposition. The former had the choice of ends, and wound up with seven wickets at a cost of a shade under three runs apiece, an offbreak doing the damage. Murdoch (three for 28) relied on a slow leg-break. A couple of chances were dropped off his bowling. These two bowlers followed up their success with the ball by scoring more than half the runs out of Normal's total of 230. Arneil (90) played a forcing game, invariably notching most of his runs on the leg side, and in that vicinity registered thirteen fours. Murdoch (55) scored his quota in good style. He hit one six and seven fours. Buckley (44) showed strong defence, although notching several boundaries, and his total mainly consisted of singles

PARNELL V. PONSONBY.

There is very little to chronicle in the latter stages of the contest between Parnell and Ponsonby. Parnell's lead on the first day was chiefly responsible turV. P IT " v° r ?' a 8 in the 6econd ™ntl* P T^- V had the best of matters, lis rC '^ le^o o their °PP° n ents' total of __.~\ i , Parnell reßumed with three wickets down for 70, but were all out for an additional 53 runs Ponsonby's break-bowler, Hopkinson, had captured two for 27 on the first day improved his average to the extent of seven wickets for 24, makin*r a com for 40, from eleven, overs, four of which were maidens. The batting honours of Ponsonby go to Craig (74) and Green (28). "The Xt m r.wo Played * re /" y good innin S*> and £rt two sixes and seven fours while Green (28) hatted steadily untH the end, STi 6 g°a P me ed T* » ■*""*» * f °i, 58) Wa3 *Sain *he best of the Parnell trundlers, but they felt the lack-of-the services of a really break bowler on such a wicket.