PLAY AND PLAYERS.

Evening Post, Volume CIII, Issue 53, 4 March 1922, Page 12

PLAY AND PLAYERS.

The Hutt bowlers rose to the occasion in fills style against Midland last Saturday, and in an exciting conclusion to the match the suburbanites gained "another meritorious three-point- win—the fifth in succession. This places Hutt in second place on the ladder, and Midland drops to third place. Aldersley (four for 31), M'Girr (three for 28), and Nunn (two for 37) caused Midland much trouble, in their second innings, a-nd when this '" strong batting side had been dismissed the highest individual score on their sheet was 27. Hutt.needed 203 runs to, win, and their effort to gain the total developed into an exciting fight against time. Nunn (60) and Eggleston (66) had given valuable assistance, but after the fall of the. 'seventh wicket. runs were still required and time was getting on. Hughes 'and Condliffe weretassociated in a most interesting finish, the necessary runs coming from their bats amidst much en-" thusiasm.

One of the best individual performances last Saturday was that of P. B. Fulton, who accounted for the dismissal of nine batsmen in Thorndon's first innings, and three out of five in the second innings. Ho bowls a right-hand slow leg break, which cannot be treated too carefully: His average in the first innings was 11.4. The ex-Hawkes Bay player is also showing good form with the bat. Gredye has made a lot of runs for Petone of late, and he appears to be developing into an attractive bataman. His second successive .century was well played, and included two 6's and eighteen 4's. An even greater total than 116 might have been registered by him had he not jumped out to a slow delivery. Ronaldson (Old Boys' captain) gave further proof of his scoring ability by placing another century to his credit la6t Saturday. Only two members of his team failed to reach double figures. - Finlayson (Petone) deserved better auccsjs than to mise a. century by only two rune. He. ii a.meful man to Petone,

and it is a pity that more has not been seen of him in representative cricket. '■ Eggleston (Hutt) scored 22 runs in one over lost Saturday—two 6's, two 4's and a 2.

In hia final game of the season, Harold "Watson (Thorndon) gave another sound display, reaching a- total of 72. Aa he is also a good bowler, he will be mißsed by Thorndon in their two concluding matches. He will have the best wishes of cricketers on hie trip to the Old Country. Although the association, has limited time in which to complete the competitions, it is regrettable that the committee could not see its way clear to make a postponement in view of the international athletic Test.

The teams chosen for the inter-Island match, appear to be, on paper, fairly well matched, but in the North Island team there is no fast bowler, and with South Island's representatives making up a strong batting side the Northerners may expect plenty of fielding. There are, however, some Very fine batsmen In the North Island team, and a very interesting game should result.