Cricket.

Evening Post, Volume LXVIII, Issue 128, 26 November 1904, Page 14

Cricket.

[By Thk Mid.] NOTES ON SENIOR PLAY. Last Saturday's play in the Senior grade on the Basin Reserve was very dull from the tpectators' point of view. This was largely due to the Jack of enterprise and courage on the part of the batsmen. There was nothing difficult either in the bowling or in the wickets; in fact, for the most part the bowling was very simple, lacking /"devil," and not a little of it Mas short-pitched rubbish. Tlie fielding, in many instances, was about on a par with the bowling. I fancy I can, hear participants in Saturday's game exclaiming: "What does this chap know about the game? He was a mere spectator, and it is easy to be critical ! If he would only face the bowling and try some ground and lifting ballstopping he would find the position somewhat different!" Well, it is an undisputed fact that the onlooker sees most of the game; and the "come-and-do-it-your-self" retort does not signify much. The fact remains that Saturday's display all round, so far as it concerned, say, 35 of the 44 players on the Basin, justified my criticism. The most disappointing exhibition with the bat was that given by Captain Richardson, of the Wellingtons. He has an Australian reputation, he has had a wide experience on the field, he is up in all the fine points of the game, and yet he "pottered about" like a tyro playing his first game. Little wonder our young players lack confidence, and vigour when they have such a bad example. The bowling sent down to Richardson on Saturday should have been energetically tackled, and instead of a' paltry 17, which took him nearly an hour to compile, the captain of the Wellingtons should have knocked the^ cover off the ball for a century. Adams, a newcomer, was not at all comfortable in the two overs he had at the wickets, but he proved one of the smartest fieldsmen on the ground, and the catches with which he dismissed McLennan and Hickey — the two men who "saved the face" of the Phoenix team — were fine performances. Gibbee, the only other stranger in the Wellington team, is a decided acquisition as a bowler, is a remarkably good slip, and had two good catches to his credit. He was not allowed to remain lojig enough to show his ability with the bat. Niven returned to his old position behind the sticks, after a season's rest, and was quite up to hie old form. Frank Ashbolt, who had been a familiar figure in' the Wellington team these years past, was conspicuous by his absence. Frank, who has dropped out of the gcime, was missed, and so was Barney Weybourne — by Houston, who misjudged the catch given by that vigorous batsman when the Wellington score was at 76 and Barney was well on in his thirties.' Weybourne lifted Barton's next ball almost into the scoring-box, jumped out io the following ball to repeat the performance, and was smartly stumped by Wright. Charlie Gore was not at all happy, either in the field or with the bat. It was not his day out. Martin Luckie, promoted at last to Senior honours, bowled well and successfully until Hickey "got on to 'em," and then M.L. lost his length. As at the end of last season, I again wonder why Shnnd 'is the last of the Phoßnix bowlers put on. Phoenix took two hours to make 76

runs, and Wellington was half an hour making its first 20. There is nothiug much to be said concerning the game between the Old Boys and Newtown. Three men (Staples 34, C. P. Blacklock 47, and M'Kenzie 14) mad© the score, the other eight men making only 12 runs. And yet these batsmen declared the bowling of Frank Alpe and Miller to be poor stuff ! Four men (Spraggon 16, Caroline the patient 15, Frank Alpe 19, and Captain Day 10), made double figures tor the Newtownards. Spraggon, who played for Phcenix last year, made his first appearance with Newtown on Saturday. J. P. Blacklock was run out for the first time in his career as a cricketer. He called Staples, but the latter stayed at home as fast as a staple. "Tucker's luck !" — a missed catch. Ho had some of it on Saturday. Nevertheless, this very heady bowler tied Newtown in a knot. Six for 41, and a number of catches dropped, represents good bowling. The Austral-Midland heat furnished some interesting .cricket. The Athletic Park wicket did not play too well, and the bowlers had most of the fun. The trouble seems to be that there is not sufficient grass oa the pitch : that is to say, that it is not as close-knib and thick as it should be. But this state of things will no doubt be remedied as the grass gets a stronger hold in the soil. The Park is a very young ground yet. The Austral captain (Vivian) wor the toss, and set his men a good example by hitting up 18 in good style. Upham, however, proved too good for most of his opponents, of whom no less than three were run out. Mitchell made an excellent catch off a hard low return. The Midlanders started in a most inauspicious manner, four wickets being down for two runs, all to Bartlett's bowling. The latter, who* has played both for Midland and Phoenix, was, however, "called" three or four times by Umpire Dan M'Kenzie for throwing, and though he kept on for a few overs, he failed to follow up his eariy success. Claude Hickson and Upham made the first stand, and the Midland skipper played a fine, free, forcing game from the start. He executed some capital strokes, and, before he left,' made things look much better for his side. Robinson, who was playing his first senior game, also laid about him in good style, and made some good drives. Both he and Upham were let off by the fieldsmen. The Austral fielding at the start was clean and smart, but afterwards fell off. Vivian bowled pluckily against the wind, but kept himself on rather too long. At the call of time the new club had lost one wicket for 32 runs, both Dakm and- Hull playing well. In the firat innings Hull hit o kg ball from Upham over the sUnd and into the opposite paddock. The following table shows at a glance the number of runs scored at the fall of each wicket in the six innings on Saturday :—: — 123450789 10 \V. W. W. W. W. W. W. W. W. W. 0. B. 310 15 17 73 97 105 105 105 107 Newr'n 22 23 25 43 <B 59 81 l! 9 a<l 95 Ph'n's. 2 6 "7 9 16 51 54 65 6B 76 WgVrt 2 o 13 67 EO 114 118 123 125 128 Austral 826 28 28 29 *40 40 43 46 49 Midl'nd 1 1 1 2 11 40 61 92 114 118 Two third-class teams made recoveries last Saturday worthy of the best annals of the game. At Karori the Old Boys had previously lost five wickets for 61, but the forcing game pursued by Meek, Buddie, Male, Matthews, and Odlin enabled this team to establish a lead of 177. The Karori bowling was below the standard, and was punished accordingly. Bell worked havoc among the earlier Karori batsmen, but P. Medca'.f, who | played the innings* of his cricket career, was unbeaten with a score of 56 out of the total of 107 obtained by Kflrovi lor the loss of seven wickels. The suburban team has not practised assiduously this season, but now the evepings are well drawn out a little work during the week would prove beneficial. The Association has a rule that when teams have Incomplete matches and are disengaged on a Satuidfiy afternoon the unfinished match shall be proceeded with — i.e., on the j wicket the game was started, and nowhere I else. The College A team staggered the Midi land combination, which lost sev«i wicksts before 29 runs were scored, to obtain a I narrow victory bj the remaining three. i T. Brodie (66) was the batting hero for i College A, and his recent performance ranks as one of 'us best, -.raich vras served uj> for the occasion. Grace (three for 3) accounted for his victim*, with some fine deliveries, and he was splendidly supported by Goulding (four for 22). The critics of the College JJ team maintain that the latter bowler should have been put on earlier in the first innings of the Midlanders. The Wadestown team went down before Bee (fhe for 14) and T. Jordan (four for 8) for a small score ' of 36. The tutors who play in the College eleven withdrew from the arena at th. conclusion of the championship match, the remainder of the afternoon being spent by the two elevens in a practice game. It is to ha hoped that the annual examination at Wellington College will not prevent the College A. and B teams meeting before the long vacation. At the i end of the present term the College loses ■ the services of Yates, who intends fol- ( lowing the sport for the remainder of the season with an Auckland club. Owing to the limited play on the first ! day the Day's Bay games were not completed. R. Webb (39) and J. Patterson [ (30 not out) were the main contributors to the 'Phoenix total of 148 against Austral, wheh team scored 103 and 23 for two wickets. The latter club has promising colts in Davenport (bowling) and Rusher (batting). Burton, who i* a son of 6. Burton, the Waiwetu player, knocked over five Austral wickets at a small cost. The Gas Company has a good lot for third-class honours this season, and if, they maintain their form at Day's Bay it will probably enable them to win more matches than they will lose. M'Cosker i is a hard man to get out, and he has also struck bowling form. Frank Harris, who formerly played with the Phoenix . juniors, can turn a medium-paced ball from the i leg. His batting is not as strong as his bowling. Lingard has also played junior cricket and is useful in the two principal departments of the game. Martin and Burbush, the Thorndon pair, have up to the present commanded t fair amount v of respect. The management of the club should insist on the third-cla^s players obtaining net practice from the junior bowlers and not from members who find it extremely difficult to send a ball inside the net. The Rovers defeated V.M.C.A. after an interesting game by 41 runs. The young men, with the exception pf Galbally, did not make a kind . showing to the deliveries of Sauverin (six for 16). This third-class player has to his credit so far seventeen wickets at a Bmall cost of 5 runs. The Selection Committee will I no doubt enrol him as a junior, an election which would prove popular in the club. W. O'Brien has also batted consistently, and his elevation is also on the cards. The , Johnsonville- Wellington heat concluded in favour of the former team after some low scoring. W. Eason agaip did yeoman service with the bat for the hill team. The bowling of W. Tremewan and A. Eason wore down the batting of the Wellingtons. Griffen and Barclay were the exception. C. Taylor, who has

played for the Midland and Phoenix Clubs, is expected to assist the Wellington team this afternoon. I am pleased to learn that the outfield at Johnsonville is a distinct improvement on last season.