CRICKET COMMENT.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 75, 30 March 1926, Page 10

CRICKET COMMENT.

WORTH SHORE'S BEST WIN

SCOTT IN THE LIMELIGHT.

EASTER HOLIDAY GAMES.

Enthusiasts who worn to the Devonport Domain on Saturday to see the finish of tho panic between North Shor>> and "The Rest" ban the satisfaction nf (Witnessing one of the most thrilling finishes played in Auckland for a long time. Partisanship «;i? keen on both sides, and this added to the excitement of the occasion when the town tram, after getting the game apparently well in hand, collapsed unexpectedly, enabling North Shore to eventually get the narrow win of a margin of 13 runs in what would have been the last over of tlie game in any case. Weaker teams than the. one which fjaced North Shore have represented some of the major provinces, co that the feat of the club team in beating it. even though the conditions favoured Shore to some extent, is a notable one.

It was unfortunate for Mills that his fine innings of So, made in two and a half hours when all the circumstance* were against fast scoring, was not sufficient to bring victory to his side. For him it was also unlucky that the outfield was so dead, as otherwise he would have been well past' the century ore he was dismissed. It was the outstanding effo: f for the. town team, though both Anthony (2o) and Snedden '(37) batted well.

The collapse of the town side *vas as much a psychological effect -as anything. With the wicket a little on the slow sid» (though easy), and the outfield dead, the batsmen went on their way untroubled by the bowling until the tea adjournment, when they had 119 runs on the board for two hours' batting, with only three wickets down. Then they took stock of the situation, and found that though there were only 97 runs to bo got they had to be got in 90 minutes. Also North Shore had a think over the situation, and the obvious thing occurred to them., Slow bowling had been shown to be ineffective and expensive on the wicket, and the only other change left of the right kind was Scott, the wicketkeeper, w-ho had proved a useful change on - other occasions, while Dacre was a good reserve •wicket-keeper. So Scott, a good length bowler, who sometimes gets a. nip off. the wicket, was put on to bowl off-theory and keep the runs down.

Scott was keeping the runs down, and the element of worry among the batsmen under the time pressure did the rest. Trying to speed up they made, mistakes -and two good wickets went when the batsmen were set, while two other good wickets went before the batsmen got their eye in. Then the following batsmen were unsettled under the strain, with the result that keen team play on the part of the Shore side succeeded in really worrying the other side out, with the assistance of a quickly fading light.

This is not the first occasion that Scott's ability as a bowler has resulted in his being relieved of tbe pads to go to the bowling crease. He had a similar success in January, 1924, at Wanganui, when travelling with Beale's team, when a threatened success by the Wanganui side was not only stalled off by his bowling, but , towards . the close of the game the Wanganui team was hard put to it to get out with a draw. In that tour Scott got 15' wickets at a cost of 8.4 runs apiece. Various explanations have -been given for the collapse of the town team against North Shore. The whole-hog-gers at the Shore declare that the only explanation is that the team over there has a man for every condition and occasion, and this time it was Scott; some players in town aver that all the luck was with Shore, and others declare that Shore's success is dependent on the ebb and flow of the tide, and that the town team's collapse coincided with the turn of the tide on Saturday. Scott seems fated this season to be in the, limelight. This game was in every sense Scott's game, considering his knock of 55 not out at the .end of Shore's innings, which resulted in his side making a game of it, followed by his bowling performance on Saturday of flye for 46, which turned the win Shorewards. In an earlier match of the season, against University, his action as wicket-keeper in stumping a 'Varsity player who wandered down the pitch for a confab with his partner before the ball was out of play j was widely discussed, lt won the! same, but some folk] held that it was unsporting. Per-1 haps some of the critics may be interested to know that - -• . ln this respect Kcott » in good company, to wit the late W G. Grace. In hi_ book on Test cricket ,n England and Australia, Mr. E. E. Bean relates the following incident:- During the Test match in England in ISB2, when Australia won by eeven runs, an incident occurred which caused some irritation among the Australians. S. P. Jones, after making a hit to leg', walked out of the pat the ground. Grace put the wicket down, and as the ball was still in play, Jones was given run out." The programme for Easter is not yet dermitety arranged, on account of there still being a possibility that a Taranaki team may be able to visit Auckland. A visit by a team representing the minor associations of Auckland province is •assured, and it will play a two-days' game against an Auckland team at Eden Park next Friday and Saturday. In the event of Taranaki being able' to get ft team away it also will play another Auckland team on the same ground and days, and it may also arrange to stay long enough for a game against the minor associations side. When Taranaki's intentions are known definitely, the Auckland Ipam, or teams, will he announced. •

On Friday, at the Domain, the Newmarket and Petone railway workshops teams will play for the Myers Cup, which is held at the moment by the Petone team.

The annual cricket match between the Auckland and Wellington V.M.C.A. teams will be played on the Domain on Easter Monday, for the Caughey Shield. That non-stop cricketer. Lord Harris, has reached the West Indies, where the SftG.C. team is busy. His lordship will be-76 years of age this month, yet only the season before last, playing for the XT 8 - 0 ,! Parli ament, he took five Etoto_ SS c \ S , for 30 runs with his crafty HA £m"in h « Bo 1? survivor of the E "*- |__4 fc Lffi-J"*" 31 dismissed J.

match, which England won by five | wickets, was remarkable for the big ' scores of the rival captains —152 by W. jG.. Grace and 133 not out by W. L. Murdoch.

j " I'll never forget an extraordinary ': incident which occurred on the Australian tour in 19_1.'' writes Sidney j Smith, manager of the Australian team.

"It was not an exciting or sensational j happening, but it was so unusual that it ' left an inoffacablc impression on my memory. We, if lam permitted that term, were playing the second test against South Africa at. Johannesburg. Jimmy Zulch, well-known in Australia for his deeds when here with the South African side in 1911, was going to the wickets with a most disreputable- ; looking bat. It. was so aged that Herbie Taylor directed his attention to it, asking whether Zulch did not think it too dilapidated to face the bowling of Ted McDonald. Zulch cherished it for the numerous scores he had compiled with it. and said he prei ferred not to put it aside for a new ! one. He must have felt supremely j confident about the old willow, for he ' took strike to McDonald. The first . ball from the easy-swinging mechanism Jof the Australian, striking the shoulder of the bat, took a piece right out of it. I The ball went 'down the gully,' but the flying chip lifted one. of the bails, and Zulch walked back without scoring. At the time, of course, we in the reserve knew nothing of the facts of the case. Some guessed (correctly and incorirectly), but most were uncertain till Zulch reached the fence. The laugh was on Zulch, certainly, but he had the worst of tlio luck in getting one of Mac's very pacy deliveries right on the weakest spot of his old favourite." A hard-working humorist writes like this in the "English Review": "This country has had its belly-full of rebuffs in the way of sport, and the limit has nearly been reached. The last heavyweight boxing champion we produced belonged to the stone age. In golf the Americans decide by ballot each year which of their player's is to cross the ocean to collect the British scalp. Our most recent success in the tennis championship took place when the players strode on to the field in top hats and. whiskers.

"In Rugby football, a game which requires only knuckle-dusters to bring it into line with a fight between. two racing gangs. New Zealand has wiped the floor with us. All the sprinting championships and records havo migrated to the United States, and Finns and other heathens carry off the swimming honours with one hand tied behind their backs. Any day now a team of Parsees may win the tossing the caber belt.

" But if cricket goes, then all' is lost, and we'll haul down our flag."

COLTS V. VETERANS. The game between Colts and Veterans was very evenly contested, and, had the Veterans fielded a full team, it is probable that the finish would have proved even closer than was the case. When stumps had been drawn on the previous day, the Colts had put together the good total of 261, and their elders had scored GO for the loss of two wickets. On resuming on Saturday last the Veterans took their total pa6t the 200 mark, and to within 27 of their opponents' effort, before the ninth wicket fell. Being one m»n short, and there being only an noun to play, the Veterans -Were thus in! an almost hopeless position, and although they dismissed six. of the younger batsmen for a total of CO runs, they were unable to accomplish the improbable, and the game ended in a two-point win for the Colts. SECOND GRADE NOTES. The championship matches reached a deciding stage last Saturday afternoon when North Shore, as the result of a three-point win over Parnell, gained the position at the head of the championship ladder, with eight points to their credit. Parnell v. Shore A. Although the match between North Shore A and Parnell A was in an unfinished state last week, there was little doubt about the ultimate result. Parnell were In such a hopeless position that it would have wanted something like a miracle for their salvation. However, the game was free from any element of surprise, and North Shore continued to gather runs until the total amounted to 239.

Peopples (83) gave an excellent display, scoring fairly rapidly after an early escape in the way of a chance to Bell. He scored chiefly with pull strokes and drives, and during his stay at the wickets hit thirteen fours. Froude (34) batted for two and a-half hours with a rock-like defence, although the slow bowlers caused a little anxieTy at times. Samson collected fourteen.

The bowling honour.* for Parnell fell to Broberg, a slow bowler, who captured four wickets for fourteen in half-a-dozen overs. He was not tried until the Shore total stood at 200 for four wickets, so it is difficult to realise what would have happened if he had been tried earlier. Kissling and Bell secured -a couple of wickets apiece. Parnell commenced their second innings facing a deficit of 134, but they could only manage to knock up 130. i "Luke (17) and Singleton (16) opened aggressively, and rattled on 33, chiefly at the expense of Arblaster, and to the delight of the hillside critics. Smith (31) | was much more subdued, executing some I nice off strokes and leg shots. Brober-r I (24) was even more vigorous than the .opening pair, and included a couple of | sixes in his quota. Aitken (24 not ooci I suffered from the same Complaint, and hit a six and three fours.

I Parnell appealed against the light at I quarter past five, but without avail, and j Arblaster and company finished' the I innings for 130. which gave North Shore a three-point victory, by an innings and four runs. : Arblaster, although punished at the i start, wound up with four wickets for 71 runs. Doble (3 for 22), Monk (2 for 11). Bundle (1 for 16), were the other wicket 'takers. Papatoetoe v. Ponsonby. The state of the game between Papatoetoe and Ponsonby was all in favour of the former when play ceased on the first day. Although Ponsonby performed | much better at the tail end of their innings they failed to make the necessary [runs, and suffered defeat by fifty-four I runs, which cost them two points. Kelly (41) increased his last week's figures by thirty-nine as the outcome of : n steady batting which was punctuated hy some nice forceful strokes. A. Warneford (22) stone-walled to the; extent of fourteen singles. Beeby (IS) was the most aggressive and hit three fours.

A fairly fast off-break'assisted E. H. Burnside to wind up with six wickets for 40 runs. D. Burnside (4 for 35) served up a slower ball with off turns.

Papatoetoe rattled up 167 in their second venture, thanks, to a-fine hitting display _£ Game* sriiq notched seventy

Jout of 87 in boundary hits, including j five sixes, treating all the bowlers in a jlightcd-hearted manner. Henderson (30) j was in a similar mood, and secured a I couple of sixes.

Fast bowler Barke, for Ponsonby, captured two wickets for twenty-four and H. Warneford obtained two wickets for 41.

Before the call of time. Ponsonby scored seventy runs for the loss of three wickets. H. Warneford (33), hit a couple of sixes. Lonergan (19 not out) drove freely. Beeby .(IS not out) was reposeful. K. H." Burnside took two wickets for thirty-three runs. Colts v. University. The Colts continued their innings and took the total from 127 for 4 wickets to 220. which gave them a lead of a hnudred runs. Cummings (93) increased his over-week's effort by twenty-two runs, and there seemed every chance of gaining the coveted century, but he missed by seven runs. During his aggressive innings he hit three sixes and ten fours. Gardiner (23) scored fairly quickly on a slow wicket. Gray (22) opened out, but his strokes were, inclined to be uppish, lie hit four fours.

The bowling honours for the A's were divided between Ralfe (3 for 41) \Yaddingham (4 for 37) and Binmore (3 for 4S). The first-mentioned, who bowled well on tho previous Saturday, was not tried until late in the innings. Waddingham sent down eleven overs, while Binmore expressed for fifteen . overs of varying length, but managed to keep down the runs'to a certain extent.

The A's were dismissed on a drying wicket for 12S in their second innings. Waddinghani (20) maintained the consistency which has marked his batting throughout the season. E. Wilson (24) played with freedom and hit five fours. K. Wilson (20) was also in a hurry to collect runs, and proved tho undoing of both. Dow (14) was steady, although his back play seemed overdone. Webb (6 for 4(5) made the most of his opportunities on the drying wicket. The colts obtained the necessary '29 runs for the loss of two wickets, and thereby secured a three-pointer. Parnell B. v. Windmull.

In reply to Parnell B's score of 244, Windmill increased their score from five wickets : down for 57 to 66. Watkins (24) only added a couple more runs, while Slaney made 10 not out. Bouisson captured six wickets for 24 runs in eight overs and Andrews obtained three for sixteen. Parnell B did not take matters very seriously in the second innings, giving all hands a turn with the ball. Windmill succeeded in notching 127 runs. X. W. Obren (40) headed the list, hitting four fours, principally to leg, and sixteen singles. J. S. Peeves (20) was strongest on the leg side, and hit a six at the end of his innings. X. R. Obren (15) kept the ball on the ground. Finney (IS) utilised a square-cut to profit.

WHY TARANAKI FAILED.

A PROMISE FP.OM WELLINGTON. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, this day. A Christmas cricket fixture which was cancelled involving a provincial association in considerable expense, and also causing cancellation of another fixture, was the subject of correspondence before tiio Wellington Cricket Association tonight. Taranaki complained that after a match with the- Wellington Nomads had been definitely arranged, a match against Auckland at Auckland at Christmas was put off in order to keep faith with Nomads. Taranaki hoped that disciplinary action would be taken and that Nomads would be requested to reimburse Taranaki for expenses incurred. It was explained that the Wellington Nomads were not affiliated and should not be confused with the Nomads who had done a tremendous amount of good for cricket in New Zealand.

The chairman said the matter would be looked into. Some explanation would be sought from those responsible for prranging the match and then crying it off.

Latest advices having indicated .tha. the Taranaki representative team will not be able to visit Auckland' during the Easter holidays, arrangements have been made for the visit of the Auckland minor associations team to play ) an Auckland representative team at I Eden Park on Friday and Saturday. The Auckland team chosen is: Frater (captain), Badeley. Butler, Cooper, Coates. Horspool. Mills. Monteith. Saunders, Scott and Weir. Reserve: Whelan. AUCKLAND V. MINOR ASSOCIATIONS THE AUCKLAND ELEVEN. The following have been chosen to represent Auckland asainst a Minor Associations side at Eden Park on Friday and Saturday:—R. E. Frater (eaptainL S, A. K. Badeley. V. C. Butler. I. W. Cooper, W .). Coates. E. Horspool. .1. E. Mills. L T J. Monteith, 1.. H. Saunders. A. 11. Scolt, A. F. Weir. Reserve: 'R. F. W. Whelan. EASTER MATCHES. GREEN' LANE TEAMS. The following will represent Green Lane in matches under the auspices of the Auckland Suburban Cricket Association at Easter:— Green Lane v. Pukekohe (Easter Monday). —Hepden, Mullingar, Lent-fer. Leach. A. W. Beeson. Cohen, Robinson, Wrathall. T. Clarke. Spooner, Kllgour. Train leaves town 7.15 a.m. Green Lane v. Takanini (Easter Monday). —Campbell. Hay (2). Haslam. Phillips. Porteons. Tuolipy, Harford, Chaafe, Moore, Irvine. Arthur. 8.13 a.m. train from town. Green Lane v. Nomads (Good Friday).— Woodbridce. Lentfer. Lyons, Ross, A. \V. '-- IBeeson. Slmms. Cohen. Robinson, Kllgour, Mullingar, Campbell, Porteous. SUBURBAN ASSOCIATION. UNITED SUBURBS AVERAGES. The United Pnbnrbs Club won the senior ?~« „, ,°. hami nlonship, Auckland Suburban Association, for the seer.nd year in *u~ces- ?!£.•«« a Y " nl ' v ,ost one mate; ' in the standing batsman has been W. Hendv who se a so S r 1 COr r l ," l , l wards of «<><• runs for the season, including a score of 3fto -~!• AAi- -■ ■-. j • The bowline: -n-ns P ,i„,n r divided among the captain (A. WUliamsf G. Hutchison, and A Leikis * Ln.ted Suburbs registered "six centuries for the season, and had one them, by Kerr of Ellerslie »S-mst The averages are :— BATTING. , Tl. H.S. In. NO *v Hendy, W 701 153 13 263 71 Bushill. A 371 108 12 0 31 Davis, C 272 110 10 0 27 *>0 ' Leikis, A 321 120 13 1 2673 Williams, A. .. 177 40 10 0 • 17*70 McLaren. J. C... 200 50 13 1 i 6 -66 Little. C.-..-..-. - 26 15 -2 0 13' Delgrosso. F. .. 103 33 12 3 1144 Hutchison, G.-'...'. 106 24 .13 "3 1060 Marsden, .T. N... 120 26 13 0 10 Maniey, L.- ...,- 50 22-- S 1-. 7.14 Thompson, M. .. 36 21 13 3 5.Q0 Williams, F 17 10 4 0 4.25 BOWLING. Name. Runs. Wickets. Average. Marsden, J. N. .'. 25 fi 4.16 Williams, A 330 so 11.66 Hutchison, G 524 40 13.10 Leikis. A 3SC 20 14.54 Maniey, . L . 140 ]<i 14.00 McLaren. J. C. ..., 127. fi. 21.16 Bushill, A. ~ 113 3 37.66 Delaiassok I* '■___- fi- _ £-