Even Scoring.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 249, 21 October 1933, Page 3 (Supplement)

Even Scoring.

Nicholas and Sneddon Top Scorers at Devonport.

A fast drying wicket prevailed at Devonport this afternoon, when Ponsonby met North Shore in the opening game of the season. Coates (Devonport) won the toss, and elected to take first use of the wicket, Edmunds and Emery being the opening pair. Scarborough took up the attack, and Edmunds sent his first ball through the covers for a couple, but blocked out the rest of the over. Snedden took up the bowling from the pavilion end, a single coming off the over, with the total at S, Cleverley came on vice Snedden, and off his fourth ball Edmunds snicked pretty four past first slip. In Cleverley's second over Eenery collected two nice boundaries, and a single off the first three balls, but the succeeding one resulted in the dismissal of Edmunds, the batsman touching ia fast-rising ball, and giving a chance that Stewart did not fail to accept. 20—1—17. Bush was the newcomer, and played the last three back to the bowler. Scarborough sent down the initial maiden of the day, when Emery treated an over with the .utmost respect. With the total at 31, Snedden relieved Scarborough, and was unlucky in not dismissing Emery, Cleal missing an easy chance at second slip. Scarborough was successful in securing ~tlie "liat trick," but only in maiden overs, not wickets. Snedden was causing the batsmen a lot of trouble, and out of two overs only 14 runs had been scored off him, also being unlucky in not securing a couple of victims. I'lay was slow, and at the end of an hour's play only 43 runs had been added, Emery having scored 10, and Bush 11. Bush brought the half century up with a pull to leg off Bell that crosesd the chalk line. Emery, who had been batting very carefully, played a weak shot right into Scarborough's hands at mid-on, bringing Snedden just reward for some very tricky bowling. 51 —2—17. Cleal, a senior B player from Balmoral, relieved Bell, and Bush helped himself to a four off the first ball, but in attempting to do the same with the third, cocked it high in the air, and Snedden made no mistake with the chance. 57 —3—21. Walters now partnered Sale, but he did not last long, playing all over a ball that rose fast and took his middle stump. It was a very successful start in senior cricket to secure two wickets for four in the first over. 57 —4 —o.

deal's bowling held no terrors for Sale, and off the last four balls he opened his shoulders and collected two beautiful sixes and a four. Sneddon Was responsible for another wicket when Curtayne hit a shortpitclied ball high into the outfield, Farquhar taking a nice catch. 82 —5—4. The Ponsonby bowling had been very steady right through the innings, and the batsmen had treated it with the utmost respect from the start. Ferguson's stay was short. Stewart making the best use of a stumping chance off Cleal. S3 —C —l. Shore were now in a very bad position, and matters were even worse a couple of balls later, when Sneddon clean-bowled Sale with the total only 85. At this stage both Cleal and Sneddon had excellent averages, both having secured three wickets at a cost of 25 and 22 respectively. Nicholas gained applause by banging Sneddon for two successive fours, automatically bringing the century uu. Scarborough then took over from Snedden, eight coming off the over. Nicholas faced Cleal and had a narrow escape when- he went for a hit, and missed completely, the ball missing the wickets by, inches. However, he was not to be denied, and'he opened his shoulders for a glorious six off tlie last bal lof the over. Nicholas ran into the twenties with a blind swipe that went past square leg for a couple. A wonderful catch by Cleverley at mid-on brought about the downfall of Nettleton, and Saunders, who took his place, onlv lasted three balls when he was skittled by Cleverley. Coates was the last man in, and at the tea adjournment the total was 12!) for nine wickets. Shore did not last long after the interval, and in the second over Scarborough brought about the finish when he clean-bowled Nicholas, fhe grand total being 131. McLeod and Sneddon were the opening pair. and soon settled down to score steadily, the total being taken to 24 before Curtayne took a brilliant catch in tlie outfield and effected the dismissal 1 of McDeod. Williams failed to score. Sneddon continued to increase his quota, and quickly ran into thirties, scoring all round the wicket in his best style. After reaching 41 life chopped a ball from Saunders back on to his wicket. Owing to a failing light, the umpires drew stumps at 5.45 p.m. Scores : [ NORTH SHORE—First Innings. Edmunds, c Stewart, b Cleverley 17 j Emery, c Scarborough. 1) Snedden .... 17; Hush." c Eitedden, li Cle.il 21 j Kale, b Sneddon 20 s Walters, 1) Cle'l 0 Curtayue, c Farqulujr, b Sneddon , 4 , Ferguson, st Stewart, b Cleal 1 ! Nettleton, c Cleverley, b Scarborough 12 I Saunders, b Cleverley . 0! Nicholas, b Scarborough 35 Coates, not out 1 Extras ... • ' u j Total . 134 ! Bowling: Bell, no wickets for 0: Scarborough. two for 20 ; Snedden, three for 30 ; Cli verley, two for 20 ; Cleal, three for 37.

PONSONBY.—First Innings. McLeod, c Curtayne, b Saunders 3 Williams, b Saunders 0 Snedden, b Saunders 41 Farquhar, b Nicholas ............... S Clarke, not out 1 Extras 1 Total ,four wickets for .......... 54