ANYBODY'S GAME.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 261, 4 November 1929, Page 15

ANYBODY'S GAME.

A soft, lifeless wicket at Devonport on Saturday was not conducive to sparkling cricket, with the result that another rather dull display was given by the North Shore batemen. Smith won the toes for Ponsonby and sent Shore in for the first strike. Frater and Saunders opened very cautiously, but later the Shore skipper became more aggressive and set a good example for his side, a lead which, however, they failed to follow. So far this season they have played a good stonewalling game and Saturday's exhibition was no exception. Frater's was his best strike to date and reproduced some of that batting form that got him runs last year. Forceful strokes on both sides enabled him to reach 38 before he fell a victim to Fletcher. After his dismissal the scoring rate became very slow and not till H. Webb and Coates became associated in a lastwicket stand were the spectators cheered by lively play. This pair demonstrated that the bowling, treated eo respectfully by the previous men, was not difficult by pasting it freely. Webb's tally of 29 consisted chiefly of boundaries while Coates got one or two away to the chalk. They added 30 before Webb was dismissed. Smith opened his attack with Snedden and Roy, but their's was a fruitless assault. The former did not reproduce his sensational form of last Monday and the latter did not find the soft wicket to his liking. Fletcher and Finlayson annexed all the Shore wickets between them, the former getting six of the ten. At one stage hie average was four for 16, but Webb and Coates, by their aggressive play, spoilt these figures which finally totalled six for 49. Finlayson also suffered at the hands of the last-wicket men and took his four wickets for 50 runs. Shore were all out just after 5 p.m. leaving Ponsonby over an hour to bat, Snedden and McLeod opened, but the latter did not break his "duck" before ho was beaten by a beauty from Coat-js. Monteith did not open hie account before Coates also felled Ms stumps. Snedden and Smith, however, played out time and Poneonby had 37 on the board for the loss of two wickets when a halt was made. At present it is anybody's game. The scores were: — NORTH SHORE.—First Innings. Frater, c Montieth, b Fletcher 3S Saunders, b Finlayson 15 Bush, b Fletcher H Player, b Finlayson 12 Gerrard, b Fletcher 11 Naismith, c Warneford, b Finlayson .. 1 Scott, c Roy, b Fletcher 0 P. Webb, lbw, b Fletcher 1 Kelly, b 'Finlayson 9 H. Webb, b Fletcher 29 Coates, not out 15 Extras 4 Total 146 Bowling.—Fletcher took six wickets for 4fl runs, Finlayson four for 50, Roy none Cor 24, Snedden none for 21. PONSONBY. —First Innings. Snedden, not out 21 McLeod; b Coates 0 Monteith, b Coates 0 Smith, not out 1* Extras 2 Total for two wickets 37