SEDATE CRICKET

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 88, 8 January 1927, Page 10

SEDATE CRICKET

AUCKLAND v. WELLINGTON NORTHERNERS LOSE SEVEN WICKETS FOR 244 COLTS REDEEM INNINGS FROM FAILURE A long train and steamer journey is not by any means an ideal preparation for a cricket match, and it is not surprising that the Auckland team, which ary rived from south by the ferry steamer yesterday morning, failed to produce their best form in the special match /against Wellington at the Basin Reserve yesterday afternoon. With seven wickets down for 154, Auckland appeared to be in a bad way, but two colts, A. Postles and A. M. Matheson, then got together, and by enterprising cricket added 90 'runs, both being unbeaten when stumps were drawn with the board showing seven wickets down for 244. It was a young man’s dav. as the colts, Hollings and Massey, proved easily the best of the Wellington bowlers. Of the Auckland team which played in the Shield matches in the south, Rountree remained in the South Island, while Allcott and Frater returned to Auckland, their places being filled by A. Postles and W. Smeeton, who came down specially for the match.. The Wellington team consisted of: D. C. Collins (captain), McGirr, Lambert, Lowry, James, Hollings, Mitchell, Orr, Massey, Kortlang and W. J. Christopherson. Auckland Wins the Toss. Tlie weather was fine, but a strong southerly breeze was blowing when C. C Dacre, the Auckland captain, won the toss, and elected to make first use of a firl ßowley,' tiie English professional, and Mills opened the Auckland innings at o 8 to the bowling of McGirr and Massey The Sussex man opened confidently, punching the first ball of the innings from McGirr past mid-off for three. In Massey’s first over Bowley sent the fourth delivery to> the fence at mid-off. With his score at 7, the Englishman hit one from Massey into tlie hands of Airey (substitute) at cover but the fieldsman put the leather on the carpet. By steady play 20 and 30 came up, both men playing attracfive cHcket.’ The colt, Mills handled his bat in stylish fashion, making some neat push-shots through the slips. He also swung one from Massey to tne benches at mid-on. Change of Pace. At 32 Mitchell, the Napier slow bowler, relieved McGirr,- whose six overs had cost 14 runs. Ihe change was successful, Bowley being caught by Hollings at square-leg oft the Napier bowler’s first ball. 3- 1 10. Cooper joined Mills, who was 17, and started with a powerful off-drive oft Mitchell, which beat McGirr at nndoff and travelled to the fence Cooper was using his feet well in getting out Io the slow bowler. Mills was moving along quiet, a swing to the fence at square-leg off Mitchell being a good stroke. The 56 camo ,up in 55 minutes, and Cooper then jumped but and banged Mitchell to the fence at mid-off. , ~ , „ . At 55 Hollings took the ball from Massey, whose eight overs had cost 18 runs. At 59 McGirr went on again in place of Mitchell, whose three overs had resulted in 26 runs and a wicket. A period of steady play saw the score taken along fo 67, where Cooper, who had reached 21, .was bowled by’ Hollings. The psir had added 35 tor the second wicket. 67—2—21. Gillespie arrived and opened with four to square-leg off Hollings, but the first ball of McGirr’s next over clean bowled Mills, who had played a stylish innings for 29. 71—3—29. Plaver came next, and the score moved along to 86, where Player had a life, being missed by Orr at first slip off Hollings. . At 84 Mitchell came on again with the wind, relieving McGirr, whose ten overs had cost 26 runs and a wicket. Ono run later the tea adjournment was taken, the board showing three down for 85, Gillespie being 11 and Player 4. . . , On resuming, the score was carried along to 98. when Gillespie, who' had reached IS, fell l.b.w. to Mitchell. 94 4—lB. A Breezy Batsman.

Dacre, with his Dunedin honours thick upon him, then took his place at the batting crease, and at once got going in characteristic fashion. Hie Auckland captain twice hooked Mitchell to the long-leg boundary, a dozen coming from the over. Hollings vas bowling well, and in his ninth oyer found Player's sticks. The retiring batsman had not sliaped too comfortably for his 15. 120—5—15. Postles joined Ins captain, and .McGirr took the ball from Mitchell. Dacie beautifully hooked a short one from McGirr to the benches at nild-<W, a stroke which marked the master batsman. He next hooked the Hull bowler in the same direction for three, bringing 130 up. With 134 up Massey relieved Hollings, who had sent down ten overs for o 0 runs and two wickets, and sent along

a maiden to I’ostles. Tlie score was carried along to 137, when Dacre, who had played bright cricket for his contribution of 28, cut Massey crisply to Collins at second slip, and fbo Wellington captain took a smart catch. 137—6—28. A Serviceable Stand. Smeeton followed and late-cut McGirr to the fence, repeating the stroke in the same over. The. 150 came up for two and three-quarter hours’ butting, and Massey found Snicetou’s sticks with a good one which came in a trifle from the off. 151—7—11. Matiicson followed and four byes from Massey helped tlie score along. A square-cut by Matheson off McGirr reached the fence. Lambert look a turn with the ball, but twelve runs came from his first over. Runs were coming more freely now, and tlie score was quickly carried along to 200, which was reached for 210 minutes* play. Brighter Batting. Twenty-six came from the two overs Lambert sent down, and Hollings was brought back to steady the scoring. The change did not have the desired effect, however, as Matlieson hooked the new bowlei- to the fence at midon and placed him to the track past first slip, a dozen coining from the over. In McGirr’s next over Postles neatly cut one past point, Kortlang being unable to cut off the-* boundary. This brought 226 up. The batsmen continued ths even tenor of their rungetting way and 236 eoon appeared. ■ ‘V , Dollins had a try with the ban. Postles reaching 40 by hooking, the Wellington captain to the beaches at niid-on. Matheson was also in the forties, and both colts were going well. In Hollings’s next over, an on-drive by Postles reached the fence. At call of time, both men were still together, with the board showing seven down for 244, Postles having just reached his halfcentury and Matheson having 45 on the slate. This pair of colts had put on 90 for the eighth wicket, and had redeemed the innings from failure. Both showed confidence and enterprise, and conclusively proved that Auckland lias some most promising youngsters coming along. Postles is an Eden player, while Matheson is an 18-year-old University representative, who last season played with the Auckland Grammar School eieven. As the latter is also a bowler of pace, he may yet have to label his cricket bag for tours longer than the present one. The bowling honours on tho Wellington side were carried off by tho two colts, Massey and Hollings,' both of whom bowled ably. Mitchell, the Napier slow spin bowler, rendered good service in getting rid of the English professional. Bowley, with the very first ball be delivered, but after that six runs an over were scored from the ten overs he served up. Lowry kept wickets well, and the Wellington fielding was creditable, Hollings, Janies, Lambert, Orr, and Kortlang showing up prominently. , AUCKLAND. First Innings. E. IT. Bowley, c. Hollings, b. Mitchell 13 J. Mills, b. McGirr 29 I AV. Cooper, b. Hollings 21 11. E. Gillespie, 1.b.w., b. Mitchell ... 18 A.’ S. Player, b. Hollings 15 C. C. Oacie, c. Collins, b. Massey ... 28 A. Postles, not out 50 W. Smeeton, b. Massey .11 A. M. Matheson, not out 45 Extras —Byes 8, Leg-byes 5, wides 1 14 Total, for seven wickets 244 Fall of wickets: Oue for 32, two for 67, three for 71, four for 98, five for 126, six for 137, seven for 151. Bowling Analysis. O. M. R. W. McGirr 19 2 57 1 Massev 15 3 31 2 Mitchell TO 1 60 1 Hollings ■ 13 1 51 2 Lambert 2 0 26 0 Collins 1 0 5 • 0 Umpires: Messrs. W. 11. Bock and C. Webb. The match will be resumed at 11 o’clock this morning, and will he concluded on Monday, when play will commence at the same hour. WELLINGTON LEAGUE. The following are the fixtures and grounds for to-day:—City Council Motors v. G.P.0.. Kilbirnie Park No. 2; Sclwyn ■ v. Overhead Department, Kilbirnie Park No. 3; 1.8. C. v. Schneidemans. Kilbirnie Park No. 4; Welgasco B v. Welgasco A,* Kilbirnie Park No. 9; Wellington South A v. Swifts A. Wakefield Park No. 8: Swifts B v. Wellington South B, Wakefield Park No. 9. TEMPTING OFFER TO PONSFORD TO PLAY IN ENGLAND By Telegraph.—Peess association. Melbourne, January 7. It is stated that Pousford has been made a tempting offer to go to England to play cricket, the remuneration mentioned being £l5OO a year. Compared with his present salary as a bank clerk this is munificent and not easy to resist, and a movement is afoot, backed by an appeal in at least one paper, to the citizens of Victoria, to do something to keep the young batting champion in Australia. It is suggested that the public subscribe sufficient money to make it worth his while for Ponsford to stay in Victoria. This proposal is said not to appeal to Ponsford or to cricketers generally.

AGITATION IN ENGLAND OVER MATTER PARKIN TO PLAY FOR BLACKPOOL (Rec. January- 7, 7.5 p.m.; London, January G. The Ponsford imbroglio is agitating cricketing circles in England. Sir Lindsay Parkinson denies that Ponsford has been offered a salary of .£l5OO if he would play for the Blackpool Club tn 1927, and adds that he has not received a reply to the terms offered, while Ponsford was in England, though he promised to consider the matter and cable a reply. The “Evening Standard,” discussing the squabble whether England or Australia shall have Ponsfqrd, describes it as undignified, though the suggestion that admirers should subscribe £1 per run was amusing, and '‘probably onlv refers to the past, otherwise Ponsford mav stay at the wickets a couple of days while he amasses the price of a new motor-car.” . The latest development is that Parkin has become manager of the Grosvenoj Hotel at Blackpool and intends to play for Blackpool. Parkin says ho has been offered X’3o per week by League clubs to plav on Saturday afternoons, and some also offered him .£5OO if he' would sign articles, but ho intended to play tor Blackpool as an amateur. BUSINESS POSITION OFFERED (Rec. January 7, 10.10 p.m.) . Melbourne, January 7. Beyond saving that he had received an offer from Sir Lindsay Parkinson, a wealthy Blackpool business man, to go there to a business position, on the understanding that he would play cricket on Saturday afternoons. Ponsford declined to throw any light on the reported offer of 211500 to go to Lnglani.. TESTIMONIAL TO RHODES (Rec. January 7, 7.5 p.m.) London, January 6. The Yorkshire County Cricket Committee beaded the testimonial l uud to Rhodes with 41250, expressing the opinion that some fresh and substantial tribute should be paid to a mnn whoso super bowling finally turned the game in favour of England m the last Test.

SELECTION OF TEAM TO TOUR ENGLAND. Dominion Special. Christchurch, January 7. The New Zealand Cricket Council recommended the selectors, Messrs. Wilson, Brice, and Patrick, to submit the names of eight certainties for the team to tour England by the middle of January, but it is officially stated that the selectors will probably be present at tne Plunket Shield match between Wellington and Auckland at Auckland, and tne whole team will be chosen at the conclusion of this match. In the event of an Australian team visiting the Dominion, the present intentions regarding the time of the selection may be changed. < BOTH PLEASED ' I wonder if your wife thinks yoif are spending too much, especially on Cigarettes and Tobacco. If so yon can continue to do yourself well and get a laugh out of her. Smoke Bears Tobacco, Mild and Cut Plug, Bd.- per 0z... and tell her that you have found something nice and new and expensive. When she finds out how really cheap it i's, she will be pleased too.— Advt. (1)