CRICKET.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 86, 12 April 1927, Page 16

CRICKET.

BRACKETED CHAMPIONS. EXCITING SENIOR B FINAL. A sensational catch was a fitting finale for sensational game between Shore colts and Eden for the B -Trade championship. By the narrow margin of six runs Eden were defeated, although as they had a two-point? lead, they arc now 1 lie bracketed champions with their opponents for the 10-'ij-- , : season, 'ust a> the spectators were literally on their toes to cheer the winning hit the end Midilenly came. Wilson, the last Eden batsman, slammed a ball straight back to Smith, the Shore bowler, the latter made a dab at it with his left hand, and the ball stuck, much to the amazement of everyone, and the great joy of the Shore tVain and -upporter>. as at th. , moment l".<len stocks were soaring, soid nn Kden win seemed to b? close at hand. It v.<- a formidable task that f.iced E.ien when the play started. They medcl I'H.l ni'i* t<l win. <)-.iite a hurdle in ;he»- days <f short afternoons, and -viiii wickets and outfields slowe<l hy autumn ,-howers. Xor was the early batting convincing, a:;d six wickets were down for t"i7 runs. Cathie and Dennett p-.il!o<l the side together by enterprising ha'.tins at a critical stage, nn invaluable parlnership that brought the century up. It was Tathie's misfortune i<l get the d:\idiier-! !•:) 1! of I'.ie day -u'>. inarined by one that barely rose after ;t pitched on the blind «pnt. Parincr; came and wrnt until the inM pair. nc\x an.l Wilson, \rere together with a lot of leeway ahead. Had th? fill coino then the Kden supporter? would not have been snrpri-ed. a* Wilson, a 'jst>man with exceptional physique, lms lioon riglit out of form of late. Uut Sat until v \vj»« to prove his day. r>u< 1 lie eniph.isi-ed the fact with n<lll ■ dm la nt hitting, and sturdy driving 'hat -fr.t ;hc b.ill t.t all ia-1- nf the gmr.i 1. The -i-nrc .iiid I'.deii h"p<-- ruse in tini*f.n. lirt with thf cud in 'i«jin Shore ;' - !lV-l tlie gnme <".;;t <>f the firo. The be-; Kden batsman vvn« B--i----nett. who up.* undefeate<l at the »n<!. after a magnificent <lisp!av of correct hatting. Kvery ball was , played on it< merits with a bnt wielde<l stylishly and st might. He had a wide re;>ertoire of shots, a crisn eover drive Win? the rno-t effective. Phillpott was another batsman who <-h.Tj.cd well, nnd gave hi.* side eood help. Smith VMS the outstanding Sho-.> bowler. He has an easy run to the wicket. .1 high delivery, a beaut if'il rhvtiimical swing, keeps a <:ood lenctli. tights the ball cleverly. :Mid in pace i< a «h;tde above medit:in. He i- on" of t'ie most promising bowlers in Aufkl.-Mv] crirket, and with a few m' rr , reasons' experiencn may cisily de\e)on in'<i the bowler above medium pnee. which Auckland rei>. cricket 1-a« neeii ieoki-.itr for ~n many vear*. Tl<e be=t «ii] port 'am , from Jackson. wl>o bowled wi;"i .■■!•.■, mendable acenrncv.

The Shore fielding was of a very Jii c h standard, and much belter than >-<me that has been shown this s?a*on r.y A grade teams. At limes it reached ■•■n , " a brilliant plane. When E<len met Shore earlier in 1. ■ •season they won by a >ingle run. i- • two close finches are probably w-ih-t:: parallel in Auckland cricket. UMPIRES AND REPORTERS. The secretary of the l';;ipire:-" A —■- ciation write* deprecating cuninn-n' • i an umpire'* decision l.y jhtsous rep.. - ing a cricket match, nnd -t.-iting thai i ii > Umpires' As-.- -.at xOl "d»H-& not i:; .. any comment should be made <11 ■ :: umpire"* diHi.-ion. which i- Jinnl." j: ■ points out that the ">tar" -i.iirl recently lhat: "The umpire".- <1 ■> .-.. ;i went against Fraler when he swung ; > conned with a lc-g break from I ••<.).,! an<i lhat Mmiteilli "was Uivvled b> .1 big ]<••_• break irmii (ooj<er;" »'J<] ad.'e that ii: e.i'h «a-e the ball wr.s a : one, \>< .-tiv-s thf conU'iiii<lll that reporter i.- n<>t i;i a jM.-ition t<l .-ci cr judge the event. Kvidc!:*.ly I.e reporter's description <•[ Frntcr's <ii>missal j» taken l> ihe umpire a* a <■■.:■- n:ent on hi> <!et i-ion. In reality it a the fairest statement that c<_uid l>r Jii;<<'«e by a reporter at a dlsUmv. v. i;;< can i.3 guided only by the lul.-inan"? actions, and declare? Cr.-t as a fact that the bat.-* man swung to connect with a leg nnd a? a further fact that the uaipij-' deri.-lon went agnin?t him <m a leg-bii"'. j appeal. 1 lie reporter did Hot use l!:i e\jirc»:«>n. "«a> given oui.' , \'.]i;<ii f though in :i mere >:at< , nio]ii <.f ('.id. i> iiften <.bif '.i-<! In by iiiii].in- ;ij iinjilying .1 <i<»)bt, in Mi.iiteithV 111--in i i!i'~;i- i- 1..1 <;■:.•- 1 )«■]) <il i-nuiincnt on ihe ur.:;::e. A- t ■ tlu- g.-n<-r.:! |«c>lioy. t:.;- \ri\ i::c1 tiiiii :i 11 uill]'llf's deri-inn i~ fnuil : -> tlic Hr.-u----n;ent in favour uf n"\v-jiaj>i r* retaining the right to ct»niment. Sor.u , cri:i<-s take up a consistent!v neutral view <"i the leg liofore by rej>ortin™ each man so diMrmsed a> "given <mt."' Lnl i:t • "Star's" policy i- to support the umpire* deoi-jnn <lefinit<-lv. except v. hen th<-ie :s strong* caiiM' f<t ib.ul.t. The "Mjir'*" reporter <1:<1 n<: in n:iy way imply liiat the iini]iirc'- .;<;-;..;/- were \j doubt. HIDDLESTON AND EOWJVTREE. A printed st.at«»;jieiit that "on the twelve .x-casioßs Uiddlcst<.:i (Wellington I and Rownlree (Auckland) have met in Auckland-Wellington matches Rowntreo's wonderful f..rm behind tlie stumps has resulted in Hi'!<ile>ton'> <}',— missal clcvi-n times."' seem- t<> be asirar. Between 10111 and ]'.*27 these two playeii have met in ten matche*. and in j'<.i:V <■:* the t<-n inning- j.laycd by Hiddlcston '• • has boe;i ( ;i-ini--. ,1 by Uovvntree. ) may be noted by the way that in ih ■ i.< • innirg* mentionri Hi«blle-tfn mnd:- >.» run-, ;:ii ;i\ erase of .".-.