CRICKET SURPRISES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 259, 2 November 1931, Page 12

CRICKET SURPRISES.

A DECLARATION PACT.

FTJXI. POINTS FOR KING'S. Y.M.C.A. AXD POXSOXBY DOWX. The conclusion on Saturday of the first series of A.C.A. senior matches contained quite a, number of interesting features. A double declaration by agreement between the King's Old Boys and University captains, to compensate for having lost the first day's play through wet weather, gave the first New Zealand parallel of the much-discussed York-phire-Glouf:ester declaration pact in last (•eason's English county matches. Pon?onby evoked surprise by going down to the Xorth Shore side, composed mostly of colts. Equally Y.M.C.A.'s failure to rise to the occasion against Grafton was unexpected. Parnell and Eden were the only teams to display the batting form expected of them, and the draw on time was as anticipated. That extra yard or two of pace derived from the sudden change to a firm, lively wicket seemed to have caught batsmen generally off guard, and the bowlers all round had successes not anticipated. Hence such figures as five for 27 by Simpson (King's Old Boys), six for 41 by Kerr (Grafton), four for 41 by Gleverley (Ponsonby), four for 43 by Snedden (Ponsonby), four for 17 by Saunde'rs (Shore), and four for 14 by Player (Shore).

There was no batsman wlio reached even the half-century on the day's play. McCoy (Parnell) finished with 71, but half his score had been made on the previous Saturday. H. Gillespie, who played a-n innings of 41 for Eden, was the highest scorer of the afternoon.

Reverting to the King's-University match, the play, taken in conjunction with University's showing" on Labour Day, leaves a doubt about whether or aot the University failure is a true indication of the inconsistent run-getting form predicted before the season of this side, or a reminder that the Old Boys are bringing to the competition an attack which ie formidable above the average standard. Apart from other considerations, it is quite obvious that, had play been prolonged to the same period as, say, the Shore-Ponsonby match, the result would in all probability have been just what the declaration pact caused it to 'be—an outright win for King's Old Boys.

The points, after two matches, one of which was played on Labour Day, are: P. W. L. D. Pts. Sing's 0.8 2 1 — 1 10 Parnell 2 — — 1 6 2 — — 1 5 North Shore 2 — — 1 5 iSrafton 2 — — 1 n University .... 2 — 1 1 4 Eden 2 — — — 3 Ponsonby .... 2 — — — 2 The new system of scoring is as follows :—Outright win, 6 points; win on irst innings, 4; loss on first innings, lj" outright loss, 0; tic on either innings, I; no result on first innings, 2.

KING'S SIX-POINT VICTORY,

Four Innings in three hours—and a six}oint win! King's Old Boys soared into .'eading position in the senior chainpionihips as a result of the match at Middleaiore against University. Play had to bo. ibandoned the previous Saturdays and the teams agreed to declare on their first innings, closed after the opening ball was oowled. Varsity in . their second innings scored 67, a-nd King's replied witli 09 for one wicket, giving them an outright win Tith nine wickets to spare. Simpson's fast bowling was responsible for Varsity's downfall. He took five wickets for 27 runs and six of his overs were maidens. "n one over he took three wickets with -our balls, his victims being Leys, Gar:ard and McKearney. King's, who ichieved a bowling triumph, followed by equally successful batting. Wilson, Morris ind Caughey between them scored the necessary runs" to win, Morris having 30 Tvhen the innings was declared closed. He fave a confident display, and Caughey undo s.ome good hits to the boundary. The scores were :— 'VAKSITY.—First Innings. X. Garrard, not out 0 fichnauer, not out 0 Extras 4 Total for no wickets (dec.) .... 4 Second Innings. Leys, c Jackson, b Simpson ........ S 3owell, c Thompson, b Palmer 8 Schnauer, c Morris, b Simpson 10 R. Garrard, b Simpson - " 0 McKearney, lbw. b Simpson 0 Dunn, c Simpson, b Thompson 23 'iriflith, c Simpson, b Thompson .... 2 Macklow, b Simpson 0 A. Blamires, run out " 1 Bannister, not out 7 Price, run out 0 Extras 8 Total 67 Bowling: Simpson five for 27; Thomplon two for 14 ; Palmer one for IS. KING'S OLD BOXS.—First Innings. Palmer, not out 0 Goath, not out 0 Extras 4 Total for no wickets (dec.) .... 4 Second Innings. Tilson, b Garrard 16 \lorris, not out 150 Caughey, not out 16 "Extras 7 Total, for one wicket (dec.) .... 69 The game resulted in a win for King's ay nine wickets—a six-point win.

GRAFTON BOWLERS AND FIELD

A bowlers' day on a batsmen's wicket. "That just about summed up the GraftonI'.M.C.A. game on No. 3 on Saturday, out •>f which game Grafton got a four-pointer. Xerr got six for 41, and Cowie four for 53. They divided things between them.

Both bowlers were in form, and though between them they bowled most of the afternoon, they did not tire. Kerr's length, '■n particular, did not seem to vary at all. In 25 overs, he secured 14 maidens. Once he bowled four such ____—— overs on end and

twice sent clown three consecutively. Xone of the Y.-JI. batsmen, with the possible exception of Miller, were aggressive against him. Such a run of maiden overs is unusual in club cricket. It spoke much for the bowler. Cowie also bowled well, and judging by the treatment meted out to him by ¥.11., seemed to be hard to follow. He varied the flight of the ball nicely, and though he delivered one or two

~hort, in (he main his length was steady. Of his 22 ove'rs, the book showed five maidens. For Y.M. H. Lyon got six for i>s. This was far the best average, it taking four others to sret the remaining wickets. It was a day of good lengths. In common with the Graf ton men, Lyon"s overs were characterised by consistent length. , On paper it was a batsmen's wicket, the howling not being ..so superlatively good that it was impossible to score off it; but T.M. as a team did not seem to get going. Possibly they were unlucky to lose four wickets' Ibw, but even so, only throe mon not decent scores, and this was offset by rwo "ducks.'' Sutherland was opening bat. r.ntl he stuck to his guns grimly. His 2S •>v;is uracil needed; but the trouble was that

it all took time. Elliott with 34, played a faster innings, characterised by a variety of chanceless strokes. Miller was the only one to show real aggression. His was a typical Miller's innings.

AH praise must be given to Grafton's fielding. There was not a single extra. Rowntree was behind the stumps. But all the others did not let up for a single over during the afternoon. It was not all the batsmen's fault that there were only 10 boundaries in the innings. Form displayed by every member iu the field would have done credit to an end-of-the-season game. Scores were :—, GRAFTOiV. First Inning-s 193 Bowling for Y.M.: T. Lyon, two for 48; H. Lyon, six for 05; Elliott, none for -1 ; Cooper, none for 44 ; Clark, two for 0. GRAFTON.—Second Innings. Burke, c Sutherland, b Webb 12 Hocken, not out 3(5 Woods, b Frater 4 Angus, c sub, b Webb 12 Kerr, b Webb u Extras ' 3 Total for four wickets 72 Y.M.C.A.—First Innings. Frater, c Wood, b Kerr 7 Sutherland, lbw, b Cowie 2S Cooper, lbw, b Cowie o T. Lyon, lbw, b Kerr 1 Elliott, c Hocken, b Kerr 34 Webb, st, b Kerr S Miller, b Cowic 21! J. Smith, lbw, b Kerr 0 H. Lyon, b Howie 0 M. Clarke, not out <> L. S. Smith, c Kowntrec, b Kerr .... 8 Total HO Bowling for Grafton: Howie four for 03, Kerr six for 41, Leesing none for 17, Burke none for 8.

HONOURS TO SHORE

North Shore gained the honours in their match with Ponsonby at Devouport, ana they also went very near gaining six points for a win outright. As it was, they fully earned the award for a lead on the first innings. When play was resumed it was a case of "one plays a hundred and one," Ponsonby having just topped the century in their first innings, and Shore having made one run for the loss of one wicket. Cleverley and Sneddon took up the attack, the first-named bowling very fast on a wicket that was in excellent condition for the batsmen. Eight wickets were down for 6S runs, and Shore's prospects of averting defeat on the first innings did not appear too rosy, but Hugh Webb and Nicholas made a timely stand, and the latter brought Shore's total to 102 with a glorious hit in front of the wicket, which went for six. After the usual interval Ponsouby entered on their second knock, but none of the batsmen could do much against remarkably steady bowling by Player and Saunders, each of whom came out with flattering analysis. Only Montcith and Hoare reached double figures, and the visitors' collapse was so marked that the whole side was out for 57, Smith being absent. The venture closed at five minutes to six, and at five minutes past, when Shore again went to the wickets, less than half an hour remained for play, 52 runs being needed for victory. This meant scoring at the rate of two a minute, and the early batsmen sot about the task in

great style, Bush and Nicholas batting con-

fidently. A brilliant one-handed catch by Monteith dismissed Nicholas, and Player and Saunders did not give much trouble, but Shore hopes rose again when Webb and Matthews became associated. It was a race against the clock, but there was little chance of beating it, and in the end IS runs were still needed. It was a bright and interesting finish to an eventful day's cricket, however, and the spectators, of whom there was an excellent attendance, went home thoroughly satisfied. The victory gives Shore an excellent send-off for the now season, and indicates that the gloomy prognostications made in some quarters are far from justified. Matthews, Macindoe. Ferguson and Nicholas add allround strength to the Devonportonians, and in Edmonds they have a smart and reliable wicket-keeper.

■ Scores: — PONSONBY. First innings 101 Second Innings. Turner, b Saunders 5 Monteith, b Nicholas ... 18 Hoare, st Edmonds, b Player 17 Burton, b Saunders 0 Cleverley, b Player 2 Singleton, b Saunders 1 Clarke, b Saunders 0 Lendrum, lbw, h Player 4 Fletcher, b Player 0 Snedden, not out 9 S. G. Smith, absent 0 Extras ..." 1 Total 57 NORTH SHORE.—First Innings. Rankin, c Singleton, b Cleverley .... 0 Matthews, c Lendrum, b Cleverley .. 10 Bush, b Snedden l<) Edmonds, c Singleton, b Clarke. .... 8 Saunders, c Singleton, b Snedden .. 5 Player, b Snedden 2 Macindoe, b Snedden 1 Ferguson, run out 10 Webb, c Monteith, b Cleverley 21 Nicholas, not out 17 Coates, b Cleverley 0 Extras 14 Total 107 Bowling: Cleverley took four wickets for 41 runs, Snedden four for 43, Clarke one for 9, Smith none for 0. SHORE.—Second Innings. Bush, b Snedden £ Nicholas, c Monteith, b Snedden .... 8 Player, c Burton, b Snedden 4 Saunders, b Cleverley 1 Matthews, not out 10 H. Webb, not out 4 Total, for four wick'ets 33 Bowling: Saunders four for 17; Player four for 14; Nicholas one for 13; Coates none for 12.

UNEXCITING DRAW.

Although Parnell took the honours they were unable to win points against Eden at headquarters, the game ending in an unexciting draw. At the start of the afternoon Parnell had ISO runs on the board for the loss of three wickets. After carrying the total to 255 at the expense of only one more wicket, the redcaps declared after just under an hour's play, leaving Eden three hours to play. When four of the Eden wickets were down for under a hundred Parnell looked to have a good chance of making a win of it, but there bowlers then encountered a stubborn defence and a tame finish saw the champions with still three wickets in hand at the call of time.

McCoy and Anthony were the batsmen who. hurried the Parnell score along for an hour before the declaration, both batting freely. With the pitch against them the Eden bowlers never looked likely to take command, and the batsmen kept the fieldsmen running. Anthony scored strongly on the leg side. Postles and Gillespie "gave Eden a start of GO odd, and Smith played all but the fast stuff with confidence, but several of the other batsmen went cheaply. When it looked likely that Eden might go under McCarthy came to the rescue and took the heart out of the bowlers by almost foing to sleep on the splice. It was not exhilarating cricket, but it was tho. best he could do for his side. Ho batted like a rock for nearly two hours for 10 runs. Anthonv who got three wickets for 27, was the best of the Parnell bowlers and maintained a fine length. Scores :— PARNELL—First Innings. Whitelaw, b Weir ... m Hay, b Weir " \ gg Burt, st McCarthy, b Weir !!!!!!!" 6 McCoy, c Gillespie, b Mcßae 71 Anthony, not out 41 Extras \ \ 17 Total for four wickets (declared) 255 Bowling: Xewdick no wickets for 65, Postles none for 44, Mcßae one for 27, McNab none for 49, Langton none for 12, A. F. Weir throe for 39. EDEN—First Innings. iPostles, c and b Anthony 32 Gillespie, c Everson, b Anthony .... 41 Vivian, run out 10 Weir, b Anthony 5 Smith, b McCoy 23 McCarthy, c Duncan, b Hay VJ Mcßae, st. Everson, b Hay 37 Lanjiton, not out 1 Extras 17 Total for seven wickets IS" Bowling: Goodsir, none for SS;-M-Coy. one for 36: Hawke. none for 15: Anthony, three for 27; McGehan, none for 4 ; Whitelaw none for 2; Duncan, none for 7; Stehr, none for S; Burt, none for 10; Hay, two for 2.

SENIOR B. NORTH SHORE V. PONSONBY. North Shore gained a meritorious sixpoint victory against Ponsonby at Devonport. The win put Shore at the top of the grade with two sis-pointers out of two matches. Ponsonbs.—First innings, S4 : second innings 66 (Clarke 29 not out, AVilliams 10, Raule 10). Shore.—First innings, SO (Davies 13, R. Drake 10. Long 14, Woolley J4, Blackie 13) ; second innings, 71 for four wickets (Walters 2ci, E. Drake IC, Wooilcy IS not out) . THIRD GRADE. NORTHCOTE V. PT. CHEVALIER. Northcote.—First innings, 38 (Minns ■14). Bowling for Point Chevalier; Skinner three wickets. Minchan three wickets. Second innings, 71 (Heath 30, Williams 15). Bowling for Point Chevalier: Minchan four wickets. Point Chevalier. —First innings, 151 for seven wickets (Usher GO, Bowater 30 not out, Felts 10, Skinner 11, Mills 10). A six-point win for Point Chevalier. KING'S OLD BOYS V. W.Y.M.I. King's Old Boys.—First innings. US (Handyside 30. Koddle 24, Caklen - 23, Stacey 34). Bowling: Scott took four wickets, McGregor three. W.Y.M.l.—First innings. 37 (McGregor 8 not out, Riddell 6). Bowling: Koddle took six wickets, Handyside three. Second innings. CI (Murray 1,2, Easten 10, Scott 12). Bowling: Keddle took eight wickets for 22 runs, Handyside two for 34. POWER BOARD V. HENDERSON. Power Board. —First innings, IGO for seven wickets, declared (Rowbottom SO not out. Wilson 35 Coningham 11). Henderson. —First innings, 67 (Jessop 20, Laider 11). Bowling: Wilson took four wickets for 12 runs, Magee four for 13, Rutherford one for four, Blomfield one for 12. Power Board won by 93 runs. WELLESLEY V. TRAINING COLLEGE. Wellesloy.—First innings, 133 (Watts 42, Jones 29, Cahill 11, Read 11). Training College.—First innings, 137 (Davies 28, Hewitson 22, Vallance 20, Woodward 1G). Bowling: Speakman took four wickets for 33 runs. Frost two for 23, Watts two for 35, Cahill two for 37. A three-point win for Training College. TAKAPUNA V. GREY LYNN. Takapuna.—First innings, 76 (Sanderson 29, Drower 19, Piddock . 3.4). Second innings, five for 29 (Guinness 3 4 not out, Smith 13). Bowling: G. Nicholls four for 33, E. Nicholls two for 14, F. Rogers two for 13, K. Mac Donald two for 16. Grey Lynn.—First innings, 02 (Mcßride 25, Macdonald 24, G, Nicholls 12, extras 14). Bowling: J. L. Guinness five for 11, Smith two for 21, M. Drower two for 3, Gorman one for 16.

Grey Lynn won by 17 runs on the first innings.

WOOLWORTHS V. MAUNGAKIEKIE. Woolworths- , .^ —First innings, 73. Second innings, •live for 77. Maungakiekie.—First innings, 72. Second innings, 70. A six-point win for Woolworths.

BIRKDALB V. Y.M.C.A. Y.M.C.A. —First innings. 84 (Foster 36, Pearson 26). Bowling: R. Shepherd took six wickets for 81 runs, Jenkins one for 10, Cooper none for 20, Wade none for 0, Second innings, 08 (Foster 29, Coltman 24, Haigh 10, Pearson 10). Bowling: K. Shepherd four for 21, Cooper three for 33, Stott one for 11, Wade none for 13, Woodhams none for 8.

Birkdale.—First innings, 142 for three wickets, declared (Cooper 77. Ireland 15, R. Shepherd 40 not out). Bowling: Bell one for 54, Coltman one for 15, Hill one for IS, Forster none for 31, Warren none for 14. Second innings, 10S for three wickets (Ireland 35 not out, 11. Shepherd 12 not out, Cboper 28, Patten 17). Bowling: Dykerf two for 41, Bell one for 31, Hill none for 19, Haigli none for 4. Birkdale won by seven wickets and 6S runs.

THIRD INTERMEDIATE,

AVONDALE V. STONEX BROS. Avondale beat Stonex Bros, by 119 to 05 in a two innings match.

FIFTH GRADE,

STANLEY BAY V. PONSONBY. Ponsonby.—First innings, 51 (Mclndoe 16, McMath 10). Bowling: Owen Sheehan tool: one wicket for 11 runs, M. Ferguson three for four, H. Fedar one for five, D. Daniels five for 14. D. Daniels got the last four wickets for no runs, including the hat trick. Second innings, 80 (D. Mclndoe 33, Josey 12, Mclndoo 11). Bowling: P. Sheehan took one wicket for four runs, Fedar• three for 13. Daniels three for 24, O. Sheehan two for 8. Stanley Bay.—First innings, 135 for five wickets, declared (P. Robinson 12. D. Daniels 18, A. Roberts 65 nq,t out, J. Bull 17). "Bowling: McMath took one wicket for 46 runs, Mclndoe one for 37, Mathews one for 12, Bond one for 26. Stanley Bay won by an innings and four runs.

HOUSE MATCH

TURNERS AND GROWERS Y. MAUNGAWHAU.

Maungawhau.—First innings 12S (Adcroft 45, Langley 33)., Bowling: Reikie three for 42.

Turners and Growers. —First innings 38 (Brunning 14). Bowling: Langley six for" IS; Adcroft four for 16. Second innings 58 (Reikie 12). Bowling: Parkinson three for 25. Maungawhau won by an innings and 32 runs.

DEVONPORT COUNCIL CLUB

The Devonport Borough Council Cricket Club's season was officially opened on Saturday afternoon by the Mayor, Mr. H. F. W. Meikle. A match was played against Ross and Glendining, the Council declaring at nine wickets for 170. The double-figure scorers were: Oliphant 65,, Foster 42, O. Christian IS, Rowley 11. The first innings for Ross and Glendining closed for 39, and the second innings for 91. The double-figure scorers were : Chapman 27, Wilson 23".

GAMES IN THE PROVINCE,

MATAMATA. The Manawaru cricket team established a lead at the end of the final day's play against Matamata, chiefly owing to good batting by C. Stono and bowling by P. Harvey. Details are: —Matamata, 83 (Livingstone 23) ; Manawaru. 103 for seven wickets (C. Stone 29, Bairstow 20, Kenah 19). For Manawaru P. Harvey took six wickets for 25 runs, and for Matamata Simpson took two for 6.

GAMES IN THE SOUTH

WELLINGTON. Brighter batting was seen when the first series of the senior championship cricket matches was completed in a half gale from the north. All matches were won on the firsi innings. Against Petone, 259. Kilbirnie made 420 (W. J. R. Christophersen 164, C. Hayman 55. R. Crook 53, not out). Wellington declared with 243 for S wickets and dismissed Midland for ICS (J. W. Hutchings 49. L. G. Clark 33 not out, W. A. Baker 32). Cousins. Blundell. Symes and Hollings bowled well for Wellington. < Institute declared when 230 for 8 wickets (R. Cleave 77 not out), and dismissed University for 15S (P. .Calwell 53. I. Macallan 24, T. B. Nelson 23). Hutt declared with 210 for 7 wickets (McLeoil 61 not out, Phillips 33 not out), and dismissed Old Boys for 127 (.T. R. Lamason 50). E. Judd bowled well for Hutt.

CHUISTCIIURCH. The cricket competition was continued in ideal weather. Against Old Boys St. Albans made 261 for S wickets (Crawford 71. .leffcoate 58. Angus not out 39. Fraser not out 33). West Christchurch made 243 (Hayes 102) against Old Collegians, who had made 12 when stumps were drawn. Lancaster Park made 120, and Sydenham S2 for three wickets (Gasson not out 44). For Sydenham Hamilton took seven wickets for 50 runs. East Christehurch made S7. to which Riccarton replied with 190 for two wickets (Jacobs 60. Roberts not out S9, Powell not out 34). For Riccarton Fairburn took five wickets for 31 runs.

DUNEDIX. The cricket competition was begun in good weather. Against Christian Brothers Carisbrook made 30S (Dunning 72, J. Cameron 72). Grange made 193 (Galland 40) against Albion, who lost two wickets for 34 runs. Playing Dunedin. Old Boys made 350 for nine wickets (Groves (30. Galo 51, Alloo 40). Against University Kaikorai made 120. University replied with 205 for six wickets (Ibbotson 70, Priest S9).