MERCANTILE CRICKET LEAGUE

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 123, 20 November 1926, Page 23

MERCANTILE CRICKET LEAGUE

The Mercantile Cricket League competition is now well under way, and the indications are that the season will be one of the most successful on record. There are twenty-two teams taking part, an .increase of six -over last seasons total. All the. teams are keen, and with much good material available the league will be strongly represented in its representative matches later in the season.

The season was officially opened at Karori by the president, Mr. A. G. Cate. In making the first delivery Mr. Cate did not satisfy Umpire Jim Young, president of the Management Committee, who immediately called, "No ball." The incident was enjoyed by those present. > ,

Among the players who have already shown good form Crook, Tarrant, and Barr (Wills), Guise, Brooks, Hassell, and Parsons (Cowans), Cotterill (Customs), M'Whinney, Lawrence, and Grubb (Dalgety's), Blundell, and Russell (Todd Motors), Jack Roberts (Smith and Smith), C. Cording (Bannatyne and Hunter), Bowen, Bramley and Petley (Fords), Gillies and J. Tilyard (Macky Logan's), and Henderson, Hart, Joran, and Gornall (Cables). There are other players performing well, but all club reports have not yet been furnished..

A recent batting effort by Crook realised 70 runs, made up of 6 singles, 7 fours, and 6 sixes. The batsman, who was unbeaten, hit two balls clean out of Newtown Park, both being lost. .

Cotterill is a bowlej who maintains a splendid length and has a deadly swerve from the off.

Brooks is one of the best all-rounders in the league. In the bowling department he has a fine partner in Hassell, who, as already recorded in "The Post,'' had a unique experience in a recent match.

C. Cording and J. Roberts (ex-Thorn-don) each did the "hat trick" in the match, Smith and.Smith v. Bannatyne and Hunter. The latter team, who had not previously been beaten, lost by 12 runs on the first innings. Robertson took a great catch on the boundary last Saturday,- tho effort no doubt giving Macky Logan's a victory, a3 the opposing batsman who was caught (Evans) was going strong, and only 12 runs were required to equal Macky Logan's score.

Many events of particular interest are to bo decided at the Wellington A.A. Club's meeting at the Basin Reserve on Saturday, the-27th November. Apart from the cycle road race, starting and finishing at the Basin Reserve, there will be a full programme of athletic events, notable among which will be contests between the Gisborne and Wellington lady runners.