CRICKET.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 37, 13 February 1926, Page 25

CRICKET.

SECOND GRADE NOTES. Trie championship fixtures under the pi ces of the Auckland Cricket Association advanced a. stage last Saturday jnider varying weather circumstances. Conditions" when play commenced appeared to favour the bowlers, and in cases the skipper on winning the toss sent nis opponents in to bat. As matterst urned out it was. a speculation as the showers that fell during the afternoon prevented the ground from (jjyjng and made greasy. YVnidmill had another experience in leather hunting this time to the advantage of Parnell, who occupied the nattin 0 ' crease most of the afternoon and succeeded in scoring the respectable'total of 267. The foundation of the score w as laid by Luke (29) and Johnston (20), the opening batsmen putting on 40 runs before the first wicket feß. It ,v- a s considerably augmented when Singleton and Smith became associated, as the pair registereed a hundred for the third wicket. Singleton (87), after an early escape, batted well, scoring chiefly by cover and straight drives, and occasional leg glances. He hit four fours and included a big drive for six. ■ Smith (53), was strongest on the leg side, pulling and glancing effectively, and in this direction landed five fours. Kissling (17). after shaping nicely, was unfortunately run out in backing up. Johnston (161, hit? seven two's as the result of hard driving. The brunt -of the Windmill attack fell on England (six for 67), who bowled sixteen overs of fair length, with a glight off-break. With an hour to bat Windmill fared fcadly at the wickets and only scored thirty-three runs for the loss of seven wickets. Watkin (21 not out), was the only batsman to show any confidence in facing Aitken. The Parnell trundler captured six wickets for a dozen runs in five overs. . Eden had first strike against Ponsonby, and the outcome of their occupation of the soft wicket was 155 runs, chiefly owing to the excellent partnership cemented for the third wicket between Hockin and Ellis, which produced 108 runs. The former was the principal contributor, and as the result of a forceful and convincing display, scored 84, which included- a six and thirteen fours, _ mainly by strokes in front of the wicket. Ellis (33), was more reposeful, and batted soundly on both Bides of the wicket. Cooper (26), showed something like -his true form, hut Miell accounted for the rest cheaply, in fact they only obtained a dozen runs between them. Miell, a slow bowler, with a peculiar delivery, finished up with seven for 41, taking most of the wickets for Ponsonby. The batting oof Ponsonby was very moderate, and when time waas called, they had only 85 on the slate, for the loss of seven wickets. Barker (27), played steady cricket, scoring the •majority of his runs in front of the wicket. Mathieson (27), took a lot of shifting. He showed a stubborn, defence, featuring off strokes, although he seldom failed to pull anything on the leg side. For Eden Cooper, in°nine overs, secured six of the seven wickets that fell, principally with off breaks. North Shore B tried conclusions with, Parnell B and the latter having first hand at the wickets succeeded in scorins 186, the bulk of the scoring being accomplished by four batsmen, while the others failed to reach double figures. A partnership between Badeley (55) and Dow (37) realised 80 for the third wicket. The former commenced quietly but opened out after getting the measure of the bowling and wicket. Dow was a trifle uncertain at the beginning but did_ not take long to settle down and assist Badeley i n raising . the total. Eton (39) brought off some- well placed • shots on both sides of the wicket. Ellingham (26) drove well, leaving the leg 'stuff" alone. The bowling honours for North Shore weFe divided between Hipkins (four for 45) and Jay (three for 42). Waller took two wickets at a cost of 16- runs apiece. The former used flight to advantage with a medium paced hall. Walters ptwo for 32) a slow bowler was hit at times. North Shore replied with 106 for the loss of four wickets as the result of consistent batting. Jay (24) headed the list, scoring his couple of dozen by forceful strokes on both sides. H. Smith (21 not out) showed a straight bat to everything, in a thoughtful manner. Walters (21) scored slowly yet gave a good display. Long (16) counted mostly singles as his quota. Rankin "(13) wasted little time, hitting three fours and a single. Ellingham, for Parnell, captured two Wicketa for 24 runs. University College and Grafton met at the Domain. Both teams were short handed, Grafton tiatting eight, while University mustered nine players. Grafton had first innings and only managed to compile 65. lloore (21) opened promisingly, scoring a four and a three off Graham's second and third overs respectively, but Barnes kept him quiet and he wound up with three singles. Altogether he hit three fours; Niekliri (17) was the only other batsman to reach double figures, notching seven singles; five in succession at the start, and five 'twos. Graham, in five overs, off-breaked to the extent of three wickets for seven runs, While Barnes sent down nine overs for two wickets and fourteen runs, and five of the nine were maidens. Wilmott. captured two wickets at the end of the rnnings for six runs. The students opened inauspiciously, losing three wickets cheaply. However, Graham and Gray put the result beyond doubt and the total reached 154 before the last available wicket fell. Graham (47) played steadily throughout, giving a capital display on the slow wicket, and included four fours in his quota. Gray (41) made some good strokes on both sides of the wicket and hit three fours and three threes. For Grafton Hughes, a medium paced bowler, secured five •wickets for 33 runs in half-a-dozen . overs. Cain bowled twelve overs with a very small measure of success. J. S. Hiddleston has- scored more centuries than any other pjayer in Plunket Shield cricket, his total being five—l 44 (against Auckland, 1920-21).. US (against Otago. 1921-22), 163 (against 1023-24). 150 (against Otaso, 1923-24), and 212 (against. Otago, 1923----2* L and 212' (against Canterbury, 1925----21). He is also the only player to have scored a century against each of the other major provinces...