GREEN LANE WELL IN LEAD.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 302, 21 December 1937, Page 21

GREEN LANE WELL IN LEAD.

SUBURBAN CRICKET.

END OF THIRD SERIES.

DAT OF MODERATE SCORES.

The conclusion of the third series of the Auckland and Suburban Cricket Association's matches in the first round resulted in four point wins for Brixton, Manukau and Green Lane, the latter now having a commanding lead at the head of the championship table.

The first day's play left Green Lane and Manukau in such a strong position that there was little interest in the continuation of the matches, but there was a real surprise in the match between Brixton and Ponsonby, the latter failing by the close margin of fourteen runs to overhaul the Brixton opening score. It gave Brixton their first win of the season.

Ponsonby had everything in their favour when they started against Brixton, and a score of 184 runs against them did not appear to be out of the way. However, in the early stages three wickets went cheaply. Hook batted well for 39, until he was stumped in playing- forward, and Ward, with a score of 53, tried hard to get his side into winning position. It was a splendid all-round display of good batting, but after his departure the side was in difficulties. Robertshaw, W. Young and Shepherd got to double figures. Towards the end the Brixton grip tightened, and nothing was given away.

Lonergan was batting soundly at the end, but he could not get a partner to stay with him.

The Brixton bowling was steady all the way without being particularly hostile, and Wilson with four wickets for 46 runs came out with the best figures.

R.V. batted against Manukau with the express purpose of saving a six-point defeat. On the opening day R.V. were out for the poor score of 44 in their reply to the Manukau opening effort of 162.

The first R.Y. wicket went cheaply. Then came Webster, a left-hander with a big reach, to drive hard and hit all round the wicket. He got as far as 60 before being cleverly stumped by Stewart. Barnbury played a very solid dozen, and C'loke, another left-hander, followed to get 49, the result of spirited hitting and all the lefthander's facility to take the ball off his pads. When he reached ten C'loke swung a ball round to square leg, where Waters was slow to get position, and a possible chance was given. Yet it was Waters who got the left-hander ill the end, when a ball was lifted high out to long-on, and Waters made a brilliant catch near the line. Goldsbury, who plays under the disability of not being able to get regular practice, got a serviceable 21, and then the veteran Einlayson contributed 61 not out. Gripping the bat low down, Finlayson started with great caution, but he soon got a sight of the ball, and then made some excellent shots on both sides of the wicket. Solid and sound batting saw the day out, with a four-pointer to the R.Y. debit.

The Manukau bowling lacked variety. Martin, who is a typical leg-break bowler, pitched the ball with consistent good length and appreciable turn, and the batsmen paid him the compliment of treating him with the utmost respect. It was good bowling, but it needed adequate support. Bleakley was able to make the ball lift sharply at times, but the others were plain and ordinary. Dunning made a late arrival at the ground, and as soon as he

went on he got a few wickets. With easy action and good length he swung across at times, and it was bowling of the kind that was better than it looked from the ring. Sure of at least four points Manukau had nothing much to worry about, and the day showed that the R.V. batting is not to be despised, and that the batting debacle of the opening day was merely one of those things which happen at times when a true spin bowler is able to take advantage of Rot sunshine on a wicket immediately after rain.

Roskill found the Green Lane opening score of 312 runs all beyond them, and had to follow on after scoring 109.

Apart from a fifty by Simpson and a 40 not out by Laurie, the batting lacked distinction, and Kerr, sending the ball well up with undeniable spin, gathered four wickets at moderate cost.

In the Roskill follow-on Laurie and Simpson again gave notable service, the former playing a splendid innings, which was marked by fluent stroke play, to get 69 not out.

As a match interest had largely evaporated after the opening day, when Green Lane firmly established their position, with the result that they are at the head of the championship table. Except for the Brixton and Ponsonby match the play generally lacked crispnesg and keenness, and the holiday spirit seemed to prevail.